Nitrosylation Switch in STING Drives Alzheimer’s Brain Inflammation, Study Finds

Researchers at Scripps Research identified a chemical change known as S-nitrosylation of the STING protein at cysteine 148 that pushes brain immune cells into chronic inflammation in Alzheimer’s disease. Blocking this modification in a mouse model reduced neuroinflammation and protected synapses, and the same pathway was observed in human Alzheimer’s brain tissue and stem-cell models, suggesting a targeted therapy that quiets harmful inflammation without suppressing normal immunity. The team plans preclinical testing of small molecules to block cysteine 148.