Is Taurine a Marker for Retinitis pigmentosa ?

Abstract

In view of contrary reports in the literature on anomalies of taurine concentration in the blood of retinitis pigmentosa patients, taurine clearance has been determined in 19 patients and 17 controls. No significant difference has been found between the average values of the two populations. The taurine content in cataractous crystalline lenses of retinitis pigmentosa patients has been found higher than the taurine content in lenses with senile cataract, but the same behaviour was also shown by five selected proteogenic amino acids. The results are discussed together with related literature data to conclude that taurine can be involved at least in some subtypes of retinitis pigmentosa, but cannot be considered as a marker for the disease.

Disruption of the taurine transporter gene (taut) leads to retinal degeneration in mice

“…No mutated genes affecting taurine transport or metabolism have been identified so far. Nonetheless, longstanding and ongoing debate focuses on the role of taurine in RP (35,45). Although taurine supplementation in RP patients did not lead to any significant clinical improvement (35), there are reports on reduced taurine uptake into platelets and lymphoblastoid cells as well as extremely decreased plasma taurine levels in some RP patients (45,46).…”

Decreased Plasma Cysteinylglycine and Taurine Levels in Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion

“…The retinal degeneration seen in human retinitis pigmentosa is somewhat similar to that observed in taurine-deficient cats. However, studies of plasma taurine levels in patients with retinitis pigmentosa have yielded very inconsistent results [47][48][49] . We are unaware of any previously reported study assessing plasma taurine levels in patients with BRVO.…”