Molecular hydrogen reduces dermatitis-induced itch, diabetic itch and cholestatic itch through a SIRT1–β-catenin pathway in mice
Zhang L et al. · Redox Biol. 2025;79:103472.
Study at a glance
Preclinical
Mice with dermatitis-, diabetes- or bile-duct-ligation-associated itch
2% H₂ inhalation for 1 hour daily on three protocol-specific days; separate comparisons used hydrogen-rich saline 5 mL/kg intraperitoneally · 2% inhaled H₂; hydrogen-rich saline 5 mL/kg for the injection comparisons.
Three daily 1-hour inhalations for prevention experiments; separate single-treatment experiments assessed established itch
The article reports less scratching and oxidative and synaptic changes with both inhaled H₂ and H₂-rich saline. It also reports no reduction in fasting glucose in the diabetic model.
Multiple preclinical models, many outcomes and mechanistic interventions; there were no human participants and no clinical itch endpoint.
What kind of evidence is this?
Preclinical
Controlled experiments across three mouse models of persistent itch, with pathway-inhibitor and electrophysiology comparisons
Skin, wound and aging research
Inhaled H₂
Information not yet classified
Some editorial classification fields are still pending. The source-reported outcomes and result are shown below; Hydrogenology does not infer a positive or negative signal from prose automatically.
Methods
Mice with dermatitis-, diabetes- or bile-duct-ligation-associated itch
Behavioral comparisons generally used n=8/group and mechanistic assays n=5/group; the article contains multiple cohorts
Three daily 1-hour inhalations for prevention experiments; separate single-treatment experiments assessed established itch
2% H₂ inhalation for 1 hour daily on three protocol-specific days; separate comparisons used hydrogen-rich saline 5 mL/kg intraperitoneally
Two H₂-only delivery forms were tested: inhaled 2% H₂ gas and H₂ dissolved in saline. The article does not describe Brown’s gas.
2% inhaled H₂; hydrogen-rich saline 5 mL/kg for the injection comparisons.
Not reported — the full text gives 2% H₂ but no absolute H₂ flow in mL/min.
Carrier-gas O₂ concentration and O₂ flow are not reported in the extracted full-text methods.
Corresponding disease-model mice without H₂, plus pharmacologic pathway comparisons
Outcomes and reported result
Scratching behavior, spinal oxidative markers and antioxidant enzymes, SIRT1/β-catenin signaling, synaptic activity and dendritic-spine density
The article reports less scratching and oxidative and synaptic changes with both inhaled H₂ and H₂-rich saline. It also reports no reduction in fasting glucose in the diabetic model.
Protocols, doses, principal figures, positive and null findings, funding and conflicts checked in the open-access full text.
A reported association, difference or mechanism is not automatically a clinical benefit.
Limitations and applicability
Multiple preclinical models, many outcomes and mechanistic interventions; there were no human participants and no clinical itch endpoint.
Experimental persistent itch in mice, not treatment of chronic itch in people.
No single-study GRADE certainty rating is assigned. Read how records and evidence assessments are prepared.
Sources and record status
PMID: 39752998 · DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2024.103472
Open-access full text is available through PMC.
Open-access PMC full text and PubMed record; no retraction or expression of concern was shown in the checked records on 7 August 2026.
10 August 2026
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