Nitrosative Stress in the Brain: Autoantibodies to Nitrotyrosine in the Liquor as a Potential Marker

The role of nitrosative stress and its products in pathological processes in the brain is reviewed. The interactions of nitric oxide and its intermediates with biomolecules under physiological conditions and neurodegenerative pathologies associated with nitrosative stress are discussed. Data on the modulation of protein functions after their covalent modifications with reactive nitrogen species are presented. We discuss the response of the immune system to nitrotyrosine-containing proteins and a possible role of nitrotyrosine as a marker of nitrosative stress in the brain.