Oxidative stress involvement in the molecular pathogenesis and progression of multiple sclerosis: a literature review

• Published in: Reviews in the neurosciences Vol. 35; no. 3; pp. 355 - 371
• Main Authors: Sanabria-Castro, Alfredo, Alape-Girón, Alberto, Flores-Díaz, Marietta, Echeverri-McCandless, Ann, Parajeles-Vindas, Alexander
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany De Gruyter 25.04.2024; Walter de Gruyter GmbH
• Subjects: Antioxidants; Antioxidants - therapeutic use; Astrocytes; Central nervous system; Central Nervous System - metabolism; chronic inflammation; Clinical trials; Demyelination; Environmental factors; Humans; Inflammation; Inflammation - metabolism; Literature reviews; mitochondrial dysfunction; Molecular modelling; Multiple sclerosis; Multiple Sclerosis - drug therapy; Multiple Sclerosis - genetics; Neurodegeneration; Oligodendrocytes; Oxidants; Oxidative stress; Oxidative Stress - physiology; Pathophysiology; reactive oxygen species; neurodegeneration; mitochondrial dysfunction; antioxidants; demyelination; chronic inflammation; reactive oxygen species
• ISSN: 0334-1763; 2191-0200; 2191-0200
• DOI: 10.1515/revneuro-2023-0091

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune debilitating disease of the central nervous system caused by a mosaic of interactions between genetic predisposition and environmental factors. The pathological hallmarks of MS are chronic inflammation, demyelination, and neurodegeneration. Oxidative stress, a state of imbalance between the production of reactive species and antioxidant defense mechanisms, is considered one of the key contributors in the pathophysiology of MS. This review is a comprehensive overview of the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which oxidant species contribute to the initiation and progression of MS including mitochondrial dysfunction, disruption of various signaling pathways, and autoimmune response activation. The detrimental effects of oxidative stress on neurons, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes, as well as the role of oxidants in promoting and perpetuating inflammation, demyelination, and axonal damage, are discussed. Finally, this review also points out the therapeutic potential of various synthetic antioxidants that must be evaluated in clinical trials in patients with MS.