This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Knowledge & Support Community

Insights in pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis: nitric oxide may induce mitochondrial dysfunction of oligodendrocytes.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28822986

Abstract

Demyelinating diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), are kinds of common diseases in the central nervous system (CNS), and originated from myelin loss and axonal damage. Oligodendrocyte dysfunction is the direct reason of demyelinating lesions in the CNS.

Nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role in the pathological process of demyelinating diseases. Although the neurotoxicity of NO is more likely mediated by peroxynitrite rather than NO itself, NO can impair oligodendrocyte energy metabolism through mediating the damaging of mitochondrial DNA, mitochondrial membrane and mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes.

In the progression of MS, NO can mainly mediate demyelination, axonal degeneration and cell death. Hence, in this review, we extensively discuss endangerments of NO in oligodendrocytes (OLs), which is suggested to be the main mediator in demyelinating diseases, e.g. MS. We hypothesize that NO takes part in MS through impairing the function of monocarboxylate transporter 1, especially causing axonal degeneration. Then, it further provides a new insight that NO for OLs may be a reliable therapeutic target to ameliorate the course of demyelinating diseases.

Hi,

Be careful about what you read into this. The 1998 Nobel prize was awarded to three men for their work on Nitric Oxide. see https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes ... press.html It wasn't described as the molecule of the century for nothing.

When Superoxide (which is important for health) combines with Nitric Oxide you do indeed get peroxynitrite which is probably the most pernicious free radical molecule there is. It is highly volatile and expands rapidly . see http://www.nature.com/nrd/journal/v6/n8 ... lback=true

Don't make the mistake of blaming Nitric Oxide. Think more in terms of inflammation and its causes. Inflammation causes bursts of free radical production , peroxynitrite in particular. You absolutely need Nitric Oxide. The levels of the different Nitric Oxide synthase (constitutive or inducible) is a much more interesting topic. Levels of Inducible Nitric Oxide synthase are sometimes noted as elevated in MS in some studies. The question would be "why?".

Regards,