The transcription factor NURR1 is a constitutively active orphan receptor belonging to the steroid hormone receptor class NR4A. Although a genetic association between NURR1 and autoimmune inflammatory diseases has never emerged from genome-wide association studies (GWAS), alterations in the expression of NURR1 have been observed in various autoimmune diseases. Specifically, its role in autoimmune inflammatory diseases is mainly related to its capability to counteract inflammation. In fact, NURR1 exerts anti-inflammatory functions inhibiting the transcription of the molecules involved in proinflammatory pathways, not only in the peripheral blood compartment, but also in the cerebral parenchyma acting in microglial cells and astrocytes. In parallel, NURR1 has been also linked to dopamine-associated brain disorders, such as Parkinson's disease (PD) and schizophrenia, since it is involved in the development and in the maintenance of midbrain dopaminergic neurons (mDA). Considering its role in neuro- and systemic inflammatory processes, here we review the evidences supporting its contribution to multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system (CNS). To date, the specific role of NURR1 in MS is still debated and few authors have studied this topic. Here, we plan to clarify this issue analyzing the reported association between NURR1 and MS in human and murine model studies.
Keywords: NF-kB; autoimmune diseases; experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis; inflammation; multiple sclerosis; nuclear receptor related 1 protein NURR1.