Zeitschrift für klinische und zelluläre Immunologie
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New Insights into S-nitrosylation in Multiple Sclerosis

Yonggang Sha

S-nitrosylation is a biologically relevant post-translational protein modification with signaling consequence. In eukaryotes, a large number of proteins have been identified as S-nitrosylation targets. Derangement in protein S-nitrosylation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of a number of different disease entities including Multiple Sclerosis (MS). A growing body of evidence has shown that Nitric oxide (NO) plays a critical role in MS. NO and other reactive nitrogen species (RNS) are involved in neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration in MS. Signaling by RNS is carried out mainly by S-nitrosylation of critical cysteine residues in targeted proteins. In recent years, newer roles in MS have been attributed to RNS. These roles relate to S-nitrosylation of cysteines in proteins which has emerged as a potential new paradigm in signal transduction and regulation of protein function. In the present review we discuss the evidence for the diverse roles of S-nitrosylation in MS, including nitrosative stress-induced gene expression in MS, and S-nitrosylation of transcription factors in MS. In addition, S-nitrosylation can be therapeutically used in MS. Recent studies providing evidence for SNO-based therapy strategy in the treatment of MS will also be discussed. Undoubtedly, new exciting results will contribute to the expanding area of MS research.