Magnesium Implants Release Hydrogen to Kill Cancer Cells
- Authors
- Rui Zan, Hao Wang, Weijie Cai, Jiahua Ni, Bérengère J.C. Luthringer-Feyerabend, Wenhui Wang, Hongzhou Peng, Weiping Ji, Jun Yan, Jiazeng Xia, Yang Song, Xiaonong Zhang
- Journal
- Bioactive Materials
- Year
- 2021
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2021.07.026
- Study Type
- Mouse
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Cancer
- Body System
- Immune System
TL;DR
Scientists have found that using magnesium-based materials to release hydrogen directly at the site of a tumor can help stop its growth by triggering a cancer-fighting process in the cells.
Key Finding
Hydrogen released from implanted magnesium biomaterials activated P53 tumor suppressor proteins in cancer cells, triggering cell death through mitochondrial and lysosomal pathways at concentrations significantly lower than systemic hydrogen delivery methods.
Summary
Researchers developed a way to deliver hydrogen directly to tumors by implanting magnesium-based materials that slowly release hydrogen gas. In laboratory and mouse studies, this localized hydrogen activated a tumor-suppressing protein called P53, which triggered cancer cells to self-destruct through a process involving changes to the cell's energy centers (mitochondria). The amount of hydrogen needed from this method was much smaller than what's required when hydrogen is inhaled or taken by mouth.
Practical Takeaway
This is early-stage research conducted in mice and laboratory cells, not humans. While it suggests localized hydrogen delivery via magnesium implants may have anti-tumor potential, this approach is experimental and far from clinical use. The findings do not apply to hydrogen water or other consumer hydrogen products, which work through different delivery mechanisms.
Abstract
Hydrogen has been used to suppress tumor growth with considerable efficacy. Inhalation of hydrogen gas and oral ingestion of hydrogen-rich saline are two common systemic routes of hydrogen administration. We have developed a topical delivery method of hydrogen at targeted sites through the degradation of magnesium-based biomaterials. However, the underlying mechanism of hydrogen's role in cancer treatment remains ambiguous. Here, we investigate the mechanism of tumor cell apoptosis triggered by the hydrogen released from magnesium-based biomaterials. We find that the localized release of hydrogen increases the expression level of P53 tumor suppressor proteins, as demonstrated by the in vitro RNA sequencing and protein expression analysis. Then, the P53 proteins disrupt the membrane potential of mitochondria, activate autophagy, suppress the reactive oxygen species in cancer cells, and finally result in tumor suppression. The anti-tumor efficacy of magnesium-based biomaterials is further validated in vivo by inserting magnesium wire into the subcutaneous tumor in a mouse. We also discovered that the minimal hydrogen concentration from magnesium wires to trigger substantial tumor apoptosis is 91.2 μL/mm3 per day, which is much lower than that required for hydrogen inhalation. Taken together, these findings reveal the release of H2 from magnesium-based biomaterial exerts its anti-tumoral activity by activating the P53-mediated lysosome-mitochondria apoptosis signaling pathway, which strengthens the therapeutic potential of this biomaterial as localized anti-tumor treatment.