The current study reports novel inhibitors of s-nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR) identified that specifically inhibit GSNOR among the alcohol dehydrogenases. These inhibitors may bind into the GSNO binding site and inhibit GSNOR at multiple places in its kinetic pathway. These molecules inhibit GSNOR in a dose dependent manner and demonstrate that GSNOR actively regulates the s-nitrosylation of proteins against incoming low molecular weight nitrosothiols. These compounds are useful in method of treatment of diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart disease, heart failure, heart attack, hypertension, atherosclerosis, restenosis, impotence, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, stroke, septic shock, cardiogenic shock, endotoxic shock, toxic shock syndrome, systemic inflammatory response syndrome, and other inflammatory diseases. These compounds can also be used to diagnose and/or study disease and/or conditions or enzymes involving the s-nitrosylation of proteins.
