Apoptosis releases hydrogen sulfide to inhibit Th17 cell differentiation

Summary Over 50 billion cells undergo apoptosis each day in an adult human to maintain immune homeostasis. Hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) is also required to safeguard the function of immune response. However, it is unknown whether apoptosis regulates H 2 S production. Here, we show that apoptosis-deficient MRL/ lpr (B6.MRL-Faslpr/J) and Bim −/− (B6.129S1-Bcl2l11tm1.1Ast/J) mice exhibit significantly reduced H 2 S levels along with aberrant differentiation of Th17 cells, which can be rescued by the additional H 2 S. Moreover, apoptotic cells and vesicles (apoVs) express key H 2 S-generating enzymes and generate a significant amount of H 2 S, indicating that apoptotic metabolism is an important source of H 2 S. Mechanistically, H 2 S sulfhydrates selenoprotein F (Sep15) to promote signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) phosphorylation and suppress STAT3 phosphorylation, leading to the inhibition of Th17 cell differentiation. Taken together, this study reveals a previously unknown role of apoptosis in maintaining H 2 S homeostasis and the unique role of H 2 S in regulating Th17 cell differentiation via sulfhydration of Sep15 C38 .