Taurine Alleviates LPS-Induced Acute Lung Injury by Suppressing TLR-4/NF-κB Pathway.

Taurine has the function of immune regulation, relieving acute and chronic inflammation caused by various agents, and maintaining cell homeostasis. This investigation focused on the protective functions of taurine targeting acute lung injury (ALI) induced by LPS. Sixty male SD rats aged 6-7 weeks were segregated at random: blank control group (C group), taurine control group (T group), ALI model group (LPS group), and taurine prevention groups (LPST1, LPST, LPST3 Groups). C group and LPS group were given normal drinking water, while T group and LPST group were given 2% taurine in drinking water. LPST1 group was given 1% taurine in drinking water while. LPST3 group was given 3% taurine in drinking water. On the 14th and 28th day, LPS group and LPST1, LPST, and LPST3 groups were subjected to injection of LPS (25 mg/kg) into the trachea of rats. Serum, peripheral blood, lung tissue, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were collected at 6 h post-LPS injection. The wet/dry ratio (W/D) of lung was measured by hot drying method. The population of white blood cells and the abundance of inflammatory-related cells within peripheral blood were counted by an automatic blood cell analyzer. The population of white blood cells within BALF was counted by a white blood cell counting plate combined with Swiss Giemsa staining, while the proportion of related white blood cells was calculated. BCA reagent was used to determine the protein concentration in BALF. The levels of pro-inflammatory factors (IL-1 ß, IL-6, IL-18, TNF - α), anti-inflammation factors (IL-10, IL-4), and taurine within serum and lung tissue were detected by ELISA. Lung structural tissue alterations were observed through HE staining techniques. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) activities within lung tissue were detected through colorimetry. Protein expression levels of TLR4, MyD88, NF-κ Bp65, NF-κ Bp-p65, MCP-1, together with CD68 within lung tissue, were analyzed by Western blot (WB) and immunohistochemistry (IHC). The taurine pretreatment group contained significantly reduced W/D, MPO activity, and the number of inflammatory cells in BALF induced by LPS. In addition, compared with ALI model group, the taurine pretreatment group contained significantly reduced levels of pro-inflammatory factors in lung tissue, increased levels of anti-inflammatory factors, and decreased expression levels of key proteins in TLR-4/NF-κ B pathway. Taurine can protect rats from ALI by inhibiting the activation of neutrophils, macrophages, and TLR-4/NF-κ B signaling pathway.

Taurine reduces apoptosis mediated by endoplasmic reticulum stress in islet ß-cells induced by high-fat and -glucose diets.

Poor eating habits, especially high-fat and -glucose diets intake, can lead to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in islet ß-cells, insulin resistance, and islet ß-cell dysfunction and cause islet ß-cell apoptosis, which leads to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Taurine is a crucial amino acid in the human body. In this study, we aimed to explore the mechanism through which taurine reduces glycolipid toxicity. INS-1 islet ß-cell lines were cultured with a high concentration of fat and glucose. SD rats were fed a high-fat and -glucose diet. MTS, Transmission electron microscopy, Flow cytometry, Hematoxylin-eosin, TUNEL, Western blotting analysis and other methods were used to detect relevant indicators. The research found that taurine increases the cell activity, reduces the apoptosis rate, alleviates the structural changes of ER under high-fat and -glucose exposure models. In addition, taurine improves blood lipid content and islets pathological changes, regulates the relative protein expression in ER stress and apoptosis, increases the insulin sensitivity index (HOMA-IS), and reduces the insulin resistance index (HOMAC-IR) of SD rats fed with a high-fat and -glucose diet.

Dietary taurine effect on intestinal barrier function, colonic microbiota and metabolites in weanling piglets induced by LPS.

Diarrhea in piglets is one of the most important diseases and a significant cause of death in piglets. Preliminary studies have confirmed that taurine reduces the rate and index of diarrhea in piglets induced by LPS. However, there is still a lack of relevant information on the specific target and mechanism of action of taurine. Therefore, we investigated the effects of taurine on the growth and barrier functions of the intestine, microbiota composition, and metabolite composition of piglets induced by LPS. Eighteen male weaned piglets were randomly divided into the CON group (basal diet + standard saline injection), LPS group (basal diet + LPS-intraperitoneal injection), and TAU + LPS group (basal diet + 0.3% taurine + LPS-intraperitoneal injection). The results show that taurine significantly increased the ADG and decreased the F/G (p < 0.05) compared with the group of CON. The group of TAU + LPS significantly improved colonic villous damage (p < 0.05). The expression of ZO-1, Occludin and Claudin-1 genes and proteins were markedly up-regulated (p < 0.05). Based on 16s rRNA sequencing analysis, the relative abundance of Lactobacilluscae and Firmicutes in the colon was significantly higher in the LPS + TAU group compared to the LPS group (p < 0.05). Four metabolites were significantly higher and one metabolite was significantly lower in the TAU + LPS group compared to the LPS group (p < 0.01). The above results show that LPS disrupts intestinal microorganisms and metabolites in weaned piglets and affects intestinal barrier function. Preventive addition of taurine enhances beneficial microbiota, modulates intestinal metabolites, and strengthens the intestinal mechanical barrier. Therefore, taurine can be used as a feed additive to prevent intestinal damage by regulating intestinal microorganisms and metabolites.