Mechanism of the protective action of taurine in toxin and drug induced organ pathophysiology and diabetic complications: a review

Abstract

Taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid), a conditionally essential amino acid, is found in large concentrations in all mammalian tissues and is particularly abundant in aquatic foods. Taurine exhibits membrane stabilizing, osmoregulatory and cytoprotective effects, antioxidative properties, regulates intracellular Ca(2+) concentration, modulates ion movement and neurotransmitters, reduce the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in various organs and controls blood pressure. Recently, emerging evidence from the literature shows the effectiveness of taurine as a protective agent against several environmental toxins and drug-induced multiple organ injuries as the outcome of hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, neurotoxicity, testicular toxicity and cardiotoxicity in several animal models. Besides, taurine is also effective in combating diabetes and its associated complications, including cardiomyopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, retinopathy and atherosclerosis. These beneficial effects appear to be due to the multiple actions of taurine on cellular functions. This review summarizes the mechanism of the prophylactic role of taurine against several environmental toxins and drug-induced organ pathophysiology and diabetes.

Taurine reverses sodium fluoride-mediated increase in inflammation, caspase-3 activity, and oxidative damage along the brain–pituitary–gonadal axis in male rats

“…The elevated levels of H 2 O 2 and MDA observed in the brain, testes and epididymis of fluoride-treated rats in the present investigation corroborate previous studies on the role of oxidative stress in fluoride-induced toxicity (Shivarajashankara et al 2001;Ghosh et al 2002;Izquierdo-Vega et al 2008). The normalization of H 2 O 2 and MDA levels following taurine co-treatment is related to its antioxidant and anti-peroxidative properties as previously demonstrated (Das et al 2012). Taurine reportedly interacts with cell membranes to stabilize them against oxidative injuries (Green et al 1998).…”

“…Unfortunately, there is no published animal study investigating the safety and toxicological aspects of acute, subchronic or chronic oral taurine treatment. The antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, nephroprotective and neuroprotective activities of taurine have been reported (Aruoma et al 1988;Das et al 2012;Adedara et al 2016). However, there is dearth of scientific report on the influence of taurine on fluoride-induced testicular toxicity.…”

“…Taurine (2-aminoethane sulfonic acid) is a free intracellular β-amino acid which is well reported to elicit beneficial health effects via multiple actions on cellular functions (Huxtable 1992;Das et al 2012). Cellular biosynthesis of taurine occurs in the liver via the cysteine sulfonic acid pathway while it is exogenously obtained from dietary sources (Huxtable 1992;De Luca et al 2015).…”

Apoptosis in muscle-to-meat aging process: The omic witness

“…This ratio is a key indicator for an ongoing apoptosis [81] and [82], even if the precise role of GSH/GSSG balance is not clearly understood, and further complicated by cell-type specificity and nature of proapoptotic stimuli. We have also investigated the time course trend of a particular amino acid, taurine, because of its known abilities to inhibit apoptosis [83]; it is thought to have putative antioxidant function against ROS, inhibitory effect on p53 and NF-kB proapoptotic pathway, and a prosurvival stimulating effect on PI3K/Akt pathway [84]; Fig. 7 shows a downward trend sustaining the apoptotic hypothesis.…”

The Hepatoprotective Effect of Olive Leaf Extract on Diabetic Pregnant Mice and Their Fetuses

“…Hyperglycemia contributes to the progression and maintenance of overall oxidative environment. The evidence from both the experimental and clinical studies indicates that oxidative stress plays a major role in the diabetic pathophysiology (Das et al, 2012). Maternal diabetes is a result of either pre-existing diabetes in pregnant women, or due to insulin resistance and high blood glucose during pregnancy, Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, (GDM).…”