Chemogenetic hydrogen sulfide production reverses vascular remodeling in aged mice
Targeting hydrogen sulfide generation to endothelial mitochondria mitigated senescence programs and reversed vascular remodeling in aged mice.
bioRxiv · 30 Sept · Shabanian K, Shabanian T, Da Dalt L et al.
In aged mice, researchers tested a targeted chemogenetic system to rescue vascular senescence, according to a new preprint. The study notes that hydrogen sulfide bioavailability declines during aging and atherosclerosis, which is associated with endothelial senescence. To address this decline, the authors engineered a remote-control, endothelial-specific, mitochondria-targeted chemogenetic tool. This platform enabled precise spatiotemporal control over hydrogen sulfide generation. Using this targeted approach, the team mitigated endothelial senescence-driven programs. The controlled release of hydrogen sulfide also successfully reversed vascular remodeling in the animals, presenting a targeted strategy to address vascular decline.
Why it matters
Vascular senescence is considered a central driver of whole-body aging. Demonstrating that targeted hydrogen sulfide generation can reverse vascular remodeling provides insight into interventions that might counter age-related vascular dysfunction.
Caveats
The findings are based entirely on aged mice and may not directly translate to humans. Furthermore, this work is a preprint that has not yet completed peer review.
The paper
Chemogenetic Hydrogen Sulfide Rescues Vascular Senescence in Ageing
Shabanian K, Shabanian T, Da Dalt L et al.
bioRxiv
doi.org/10.64898/2026.09.29.755422