Targeting iNOS As a Valuable Strategy for the Therapy of Glioma

Abstract

Gliomas are the most prevalent primary tumors of the brain and spinal cord. Histologically, they share features of normal glial cells, but whether gliomas originate from normal glial cells, glial or neural precursors, stem cells, or other cell types remains a topic of investigation. The enhanced expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) has been reported as a hallmark of chemoresistance in gliomas, and several lines of evidence have reported that a decreased proliferation of glioma cells could be related to the selective inhibition of iNOS. This review aims to summarize the current understanding of iNOS expression and activity modulation in the regulation of glioma pathogenesis, along with compounds that could act as therapeutic agents against glioma.

Keywords: glioma; iNOS; inhibition; neuroinflammation; nitric oxide.