Taurine and inflammatory diseases

Abstract

Taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid) is the most abundant free amino acid in humans and plays an important role in several essential biological processes such as bile acid conjugation, maintenance of calcium homeostasis, osmoregulation and membrane stabilization. Moreover, attenuation of apoptosis and its antioxidant activity seem to be crucial for the cytoprotective effects of taurine. Although these properties are not tissue specific, taurine reaches particularly high concentrations in tissues exposed to elevated levels of oxidants (e.g., inflammatory cells). It suggests that taurine may play an important role in inflammation associated with oxidative stress. Indeed, at the site of inflammation, taurine is known to react with and detoxify hypochlorous acid generated by the neutrophil myeloperoxidase (MPO)–halide system. This reaction results in the formation of less toxic taurine chloramine (TauCl). Both haloamines, TauCl and taurine bromamine (TauBr), the product of taurine reaction with hypobromous acid (HOBr), exert antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. In contrast to a well-documented regulatory role of taurine and taurine haloamines (TauCl, TauBr) in acute inflammation, their role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases is not clear. This review summarizes our current knowledge concerning the role of taurine, TauCl and TauBr in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases initiated or propagated by MPO-derived oxidants. The aim of this paper is to show links between inflammation, neutrophils, MPO, oxidative stress and taurine. We will discuss the possible contribution of taurine and taurine haloamines to the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases, especially in the best studied example of rheumatoid arthritis.

Roles of the MST1-JNK signaling pathway in apoptosis of colorectal cancer cells induced by Taurine

“…It normally exists in tissues and cells in the free form, does not participate in protein synthesis, and is an important endogenous anti-injury substance in the human body [18,19]. Recent studies have shown that Tau is involved in the most important pathway related to tumor metabolism [20,21].…”

Clinical significance of taurine

“…The anti-inflammatory activity of taurine chloramine has also been observed in animal models of collagen-induced arthritis (Marcinkiewicz and Kontny 2013;Kim and Cha 2014). Thus, the studies by Marcinkiewicz and Kontny (2013) support the view that taurine chloramine might at least partially alleviate some symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.…”

“…Several of those newly discovered functions have been tied to taurine conjugation. One reaction involves the detoxification of hypochlorous acid by taurine resulting in the formation of taurine chloramine, a product that has the added benefit of possessing anti-inflammatory activity (Schuller-Levis and Park 2003;Marcinkiewicz and Kontny 2013;Kim and Cha 2014). Taurine also forms a conjugate (5-taurinomethyluridine) with the wobble position uridine of tRNA Leu(UUR) , a reaction that enhances the interaction between the modified uridine and guanine (Kirino et al 2005;Kurata et al 2008;Schaffer et al 2013).…”

“…The myeloperoxidase-catalyzed reaction between taurine and hypochlorous acid leading to taurine chloramine formation plays a key role in the pathogenesis of inflammation (Marcinkiewicz and Kontny 2013;Kim and Cha 2014). Not only is taurine chloramine a less potent cytotoxin than hypochlorous acid, but taurine chloramines suppresses the activity of phagocytic cells and inhibits LPS-mediated secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines by joint-associated adipose tissue (Kontny et al 2000;Marcinkiewicz et al 2006;Marcinkiewicz and Kontny 2013;Kim and Cha 2014).…”

“…Not only is taurine chloramine a less potent cytotoxin than hypochlorous acid, but taurine chloramines suppresses the activity of phagocytic cells and inhibits LPS-mediated secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines by joint-associated adipose tissue (Kontny et al 2000;Marcinkiewicz et al 2006;Marcinkiewicz and Kontny 2013;Kim and Cha 2014). The anti-inflammatory activity of taurine chloramine has also been observed in animal models of collagen-induced arthritis (Marcinkiewicz and Kontny 2013;Kim and Cha 2014).…”