Taurine and proliferation of lymphocytes in physically restrained rats

Abstract

BackgroundTaurine is present in lymphocytes and seems to modulate certain immune cell functions. Among the effects of taurine on these cells are protection against antioxidants and regulation of inflammatory aspects of the immune response. Stress affects antigen presentation, traffic and proliferation of leukocytes, as well as antibody and cytokine secretion. The purposes of this study were to explore the possible direct effects of taurine concentrations on lymphoproliferation and interleukins levels in control and in physical restrained rats.MethodsLymphocytes of male Sprague-Dawley rats, stressed by physical restrain and controls (5 h per day for 5 days) were isolated from blood by Histopaque (1077 g/l) and differential adhesion to plastic, and then cultured (72 h) in the presence of different concentrations of taurine (0.5 – 50 mM), β-alanine (0.5 – 50 mM), or both, without or with the T cells mitogen, concanavalin A. Plasma and lymphocytes levels of pro-inflammatory interleukin-1β and anti-inflammatory interleukin-10 were respectively measured by Pierce Endogen rat ELISA Kits. Taurine in plasma and in lymphocytes were determined by HPLC.ResultsLymphoproliferation of resting cells significantly decreased in the presence of 3 and 6 mM taurine and increased up to control level at 12 mM taurine. In concanavalin A-activated lymphocytes, the effect of taurine was greater. β-alanine increased lymphoproliferation in a bell shaped dose-dependent manner and decreased it in activated lymphocytes but in a lower magnitude. In combination, β-alanine impaired the effect of taurine at 3 and 6 mM. After restriction, no change in lymphoproliferation was observed at different concentrations of the amino acids without or with concanavalin A, although pro-inflammatory interleukin and taurine in plasma and in lymphocytes significantly increased.ConclusionsTaurine affects lymphoproliferation in control rats, following a dose-dependent manner, an effect that might involve its transport into the cells. Elevation of interleukin-1β produced in stressed rats by physical restrain could seriously affect the immune balance, whereas taurine increase might be protective. These results suggest that taurine and taurine transport play a role in lymphoproliferation. In addition, modifications of taurine system in lymphocytes take place during restriction stress.

The impact of immunomodulator compound from the group of substituted thiadiazines on the course of stress reaction

“…As reported in several in vitro studies, IL-6 has an amplifying effect on the synthesis of IL-1 mRNA, which reduces the corticosterone suppressive effect on IL-1 β production [93]. Moreover, under immobilization stress, IL-1β, together with TNF-α and IL-6, affects the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis to produce a secondary increase of the level of glucocorticoids [91].…”

“…Immobilization activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, which brings about a transient increase in glucocorticoid and IL-6 levels [91]. As reported in several in vitro studies, IL-6 has an amplifying effect on the synthesis of IL-1 mRNA, which reduces the corticosterone suppressive effect on IL-1 β production [93].…”

“…In particular, the level of pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1b increases more than two-fold in rats subjected to immobilization stress, while the level of IL-10 remains unchanged [91].…”

Cancer associated fibroblasts have phenotypic and functional characteristics similar to the fibrocytes that represent a novel MDSC subset

“…PBMCs were obtained from healthy adult Sprague Dawley rats' peripheral blood (by venipuncture) using density gradient separation with Histopaque-1077 (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA), as previously described. 65 PBMCs were cultured in RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum, 2.1 mM L-glutamine, 100 U/mL penicillin and 100 mg/mL streptomycin at 37 C, 5% CO 2 . Cell counts and viability were assessed using the trypan blue dye exclusion method with a hemocytometer.…”

Radiation protection following nuclear power accidents: a survey of putative mechanisms involved in the radioprotective actions of taurine during and after radiation exposure.

“…Taurine has later been reported to function as a growth factor for leukocytes or leukocyte progenitor cells (669–673) and apparently also for other cell types including nerve and nerve progenitor cells (674–676), with this growth stimulating effect having been observed even under adverse conditions with hypoxia and reoxygenation (677). …”