IL17RB genetic variants are associated with acamprosate treatment response in patients with alcohol use disorder: A proteomics-informed genomics study.

Acamprosate is a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved medication for the treatment of alcohol use disorder (AUD). However, only a subset of patients achieves optimal treatment outcomes. Currently, no biological measures are utilized to predict response to acamprosate treatment. We applied our established pharmaco-omics informed genomics strategy to identify potential biomarkers associated with acamprosate treatment response. Specifically, our previous open-label acamprosate clinical trial recruited 442 patients with AUD who were treated with acamprosate for three months. We first performed proteomics using baseline plasma samples to identify potential biomarkers associated with acamprosate treatment outcomes. Next, we applied our established "proteomics-informed genome-wide association study (GWAS)" research strategy, and identified 12 proteins, including interleukin-17 receptor B (IL17RB), associated with acamprosate treatment response.​ A GWAS for IL17RB concentrations identified several genome-wide significant signals. Specifically, the top hit single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs6801605 with a minor allele frequency of 38% in the European American population mapped 4 kilobase (Kb) upstream of IL17RB, and intron 1 of the choline dehydrogenase (CHDH) gene on chromosome 3 (p: 4.8E-20). The variant genotype (AA) for the SNP rs6801605 was associated with lower IL17RB protein expression. In addition, we identified a series of genetic variants in IL17RB that were associated with acamprosate treatment outcomes. Furthermore, the variantgenotypes for all of those IL17RB SNPs were protective for alcohol relapse. Finally, we demonstrated that the basal level of mRNA expression of IL17RB was inversely correlated with those of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) subunits, and a significantly higher expression of NF-κB subunits was observed in AUD patients who relapsed to alcohol use. In summary, this study illustrates that IL17RB genetic variants might contribute to acamprosate treatment outcomes. This series of studies represents an important step toward generating functional hypotheses that could be tested to gain insight into mechanisms underlying acamprosate treatment response phenotypes. (The ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00662571).

Patient Perspectives on Pharmacotherapy of Alcohol Dependence.

INTRODUCTION: Pharmacotherapy with drugs like naltrexone or acamprosate is a well-evaluated element in the treatment of alcohol dependence (AD). However, in many countries, these medications are rarely administered. The objective of the present study was to identify from patients' perspective factors that prevent the initiation and compliance with pharmacological treatment of AD. METHODS: Patients from inpatient alcohol withdrawal treatment underwent a standardized interview. Questions included socio-demographic data, history of AD, treatment history, knowledge and personal experience regarding pharmacotherapy of AD, and personal views about the causes of AD. RESULTS: Three hundred patients (mean age 47.3 years, 27.7% female, mean duration of AD 8.9 years, 67% with a history of previous inpatient withdrawal treatment) were included. The majority of patients (58.7%) already knew drugs for the pharmacotherapy of AD. Thirty percent had ever used such medications, most often acamprosate. Except for disulfiram, pharmacotherapy of AD had lasted only a few weeks, on average. Medication usually had been applied without additional psychotherapy. No severe side effects were reported. Patients had often stopped pharmacotherapy on their own, when assuming they had reached stable abstinence. Openness to start pharmacotherapy for AD was currently stated by 67% of the total sample. In multiple logistic regression, openness was predicted by having a concept of AD as a medical disease and by a shorter duration of AD. DISCUSSION: To improve the administration of pharmacotherapy for AD implementation strategies should be systematically developed and evaluated with a focus on the concept of AD as a medical disease.

Psychosocial and medication interventions to stop or reduce alcohol consumption during pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Despite the known harms, alcohol consumption is common in pregnancy. Rates vary between countries, and are estimated to be 10% globally, with up to 25% in Europe. OBJECTIVES: To assess the efficacy of psychosocial interventions and medications to reduce or stop alcohol consumption during pregnancy. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Drugs and Alcohol Group Specialised Register (via CRSLive), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, and PsycINFO, from inception to 8 January 2024. We also searched for ongoing and unpublished studies via ClinicalTrials.gov and the World Health Organization (WHO) International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP). All searches included non-English language literature. We handsearched references of topic-related systematic reviews and included studies. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomised controlled trials that compared medications or psychosocial interventions, or both, to placebo, no intervention, usual care, or other medications or psychosocial interventions used to reduce or stop alcohol use during pregnancy. Our primary outcomes of interest were abstinence from alcohol, reduction in alcohol consumption, retention in treatment, and women with any adverse event. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We used standard Cochrane methodological procedures. MAIN RESULTS: We included eight studies (1369 participants) in which pregnant women received an intervention to stop or reduce alcohol use during pregnancy. In one study, almost half of participants had a current diagnosis of alcohol use disorder (AUD); in another study, 40% of participants had a lifetime diagnosis of AUD. Six studies took place in the USA, one in Spain, and one in the Netherlands. All included studies evaluated the efficacy of psychosocial interventions; we did not find any study that evaluated the efficacy of medications for the treatment of AUD during pregnancy. Psychosocial interventions were mainly brief interventions ranging from a single session of 10 to 60 minutes to five sessions of 10 minutes each. Pregnant women received the psychosocial intervention approximately at the end of the first trimester of pregnancy, and the outcome of alcohol use was reassessed 8 to 24 weeks after the psychosocial intervention. Women in the control group received treatment as usual (TAU) or similar treatments such as comprehensive assessment of alcohol use and advice to stop drinking during pregnancy. Globally, we found that, compared to TAU, psychosocial interventions may increase the rate of continuously abstinent participants (risk ratio (RR) 1.34, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.14 to 1.57; I2 =0%; 3 studies; 378 women; low certainty evidence). Psychosocial interventions may have little to no effect on the number of drinks per day, but the evidence is very uncertain (mean difference -0.42, 95% CI -1.13 to 0.28; I2 = 86%; 2 studies; 157 women; very low certainty evidence). Psychosocial interventions probably have little to no effect on the number of women who completed treatment (RR 0.98, 95% CI 0.94 to 1.02; I2 = 0%; 7 studies; 1283 women; moderate certainty evidence). None of the included studies assessed adverse events of treatments. We downgraded the certainty of the evidence due to risk of bias and imprecision of the estimates. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Brief psychosocial interventions may increase the rate of continuous abstinence among pregnant women who report alcohol use during pregnancy. Further studies should be conducted to investigate the efficacy and safety of psychosocial interventions and other treatments (e.g. medications) for women with AUD. These studies should provide detailed information on alcohol use before and during pregnancy using consistent measures such as the number of drinks per drinking day. When heterogeneous populations are recruited, more detailed information on alcohol use during pregnancy should be provided to allow future systematic reviews to be conducted. Other important information that would enhance the usefulness of these studies would be the presence of other comorbid conditions such as anxiety, mood disorders, and the use of other psychoactive substances.

Interaction of exercise training with taurine attenuates infarct size and cardiac dysfunction via Akt-Foxo3a-Caspase-8 signaling pathway.

This research aimed to investigate the synergistic protective effect of exercise training and taurine on Akt-Foxo3a-Caspase-8 signaling related to infarct size and cardiac dysfunction. Therefore, 25 male Wistar rats with MI were divided into five groups: sham (Sh), control-MI(C-MI), exercise training-MI(Exe-MI), taurine supplementation-MI(Supp-MI), and exercise training + taurine-MI(Exe + Supp-MI). The taurine groups were given a 200 mg/kg/day dose of taurine by drinking water. Exercise training was conducted for 8 weeks (5 days/week), each session alternated 2 min with 25-30% VO2peak and 4 min with 55-60% VO2peak for 10 alternations. Then, the left ventricle tissue samples were taken from all groups. Exercise training and taurine activated Akt and decreased Foxo3a. Expression of the caspase-8 gene was increased in cardiac necrosis after MI, While, after 12 weeks of intervention decreased. Results exhibited that exercise training combined with taurine has a greater effect than either alone on activating the Akt-Foxo3a-caspase signaling pathway (P < 0.001). MI-induced myocardial injury leads to increase collagen deposition (P < 0.001) and infarct size and results in cardiac dysfunction via reduced stroke volume, ejection fraction, and fractional shortening (P < 0.001). Exercise training and taurine improved cardiac functional parameters (SV, EF, FS) and infarct size (P < 0.001) after 8 weeks of intervention in rats with MI. Also, the interaction of exercise training and taurine has a greater effect than alone on these variables. Interaction of exercise training with taurine supplementation induces a general amelioration of the cardiac histopathological profiles and improves cardiac remodeling via activating Akt-Foxo3a-Caspase-8 signaling with protective effects against MI.

The renoprotective effects of taurine against diabetic nephropathy via the p38 MAPK and TGF-ß/Smad2/3 signaling pathways.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN), a severe diabetes complication, causes kidney morphological and structural changes due to extracellular matrix accumulation. This accumulation is caused mainly by oxidative stress. Semi-essential amino acid derivative taurine has powerful antioxidant and antifibrotic effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the renoprotective effects of taurine through its possible roles in oxidative stress, extracellular matrix proteins, and the signaling pathways associated with the accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins in DN rats. 29 Wistar albino rats were randomly separated into control, taurine, diabetes, and diabetes + taurine groups. Diabetes animals were injected 45 mg/kg streptozosine. Taurine is given by adding to drinking water as 1% (w/v). Urine, serum, and kidney tissue were collected from rats for biochemical and histological analysis after 12 weeks. According to the studies, taurine significantly reduces the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), total oxidant status (TOS), and protein expression of NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) that increase in diabetic kidney tissue. Also, decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity levels significantly increased with taurine in diabetic rats. Moreover, increased mRNA and protein levels of fibronectin decreased with taurine. The matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 activities and their mRNA levels increased significantly, and this increase was significantly summed with taurine. There was a decrease in mRNA expression of Extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN). Taurine significantly increased this decrease. Diabetes increased mRNA expressions of transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß and Smad2/3. Taurine significantly reduced this induction. TGF-ß protein expression, p38, and Smad2/3 activations were also inhibited, but taurine was suppressed significantly. All these findings indicate that taurine may be an effective practical strategy to prevent renal diabetic injury.

Reversal and Preventive Pleiotropic Mechanisms Involved in the Antipsychotic-Like Effect of Taurine, an Essential ß-Amino Acid in Ketamine-Induced Experimental Schizophrenia in Mice.

Schizophrenia is a life disabling, multisystem neuropsychiatric disease mostly derived from complex epigenetic-mediated neurobiological changes causing behavioural deficits. Neurochemical disorganizations, neurotrophic and neuroimmune alterations are some of the challenging neuropathologies proving unabated during psychopharmacology of schizophrenia, further bedeviled by drug-induced metabolic derangements including alteration of amino acids. In first-episode schizophrenia patients, taurine, an essential ß-amino acid represses psychotic-symptoms. However, its anti-psychotic-like mechanisms remain incomplete. This study evaluated the ability of taurine to prevent or reverse ketamine-induced experimental psychosis and the underlying neurochemical, neurotrophic and neuroinmune mechanisms involved in taurine's clinical action. The study consisted of three different experiments with Swiss mice (n = 7). In the drug alone, mice received saline (10 mL/kg/p.o./day), taurine (50 and 100 mg/kg/p.o./day) and risperidone (0.5 mg/kg/p.o./day) for 14 days. In the preventive study of separate cohort, mice were concomitantly given ketamine (20 mg/kg/i.p./day) from days 8 to 14. In the reversal study, mice received ketamine for 14 days before taurine or risperidone treatments from days 8 to 14 respectively. Afterwards, stereotypy behaviour, social, non-spatial memory deficits, and body weights were assessed. Neurochemical (dopamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine, glutamic acid decarboxylase, (GAD)), brain derived-neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and pro-inflammatory cytokines [tumor necrosis factor-alpha, (TNF-α), interleukin-6, (IL-6)] were assayed in the striatum, prefrontal-cortex and hippocampal area. Taurine attenuates ketamine-induced schizophrenia-like behaviour without changes in body weight. Taurine reduced ketamine-induced dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine changes, and increased GAD and BDNF levels in the striatum, prefrontal-cortex and hippocampus, suggesting increased GABAergic and neurotrophic transmissions. Taurine decreases ketamine-induced increased in TNF-α and IL-6 concentrations in the striatum, prefrontal-cortex and hippocampus. These findings also suggest that taurine protects against schizophrenia through neurochemical modulations, neurotrophic enhancement, and inhibition of neuropathologic cytokine activities.

Dietary taurine supplementation counteracts deoxynivalenol-induced liver injury via alleviating oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, apoptosis, and inflammation in piglets.

Deoxynivalenol (DON), as a widespread Fusarium mycotoxin in cereals, food products, and animal feed, is detrimental to both human and animal health. The liver is not only the primary organ responsible for DON metabolism but also the principal organ affected by DON toxicity. Taurine is well known to display various physiological and pharmacological functions due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the information regarding taurine supplementation counteracting DON-induced liver injury in piglets is still unclear. In our work, twenty-four weaned piglets were subjected to four groups for a 24-day period, including the BD group (a basal diet), the DON group (3 mg/kg DON-contaminated diet), the DON+LT group (3 mg/kg DON-contaminated diet + 0.3% taurine), and the DON+HT group (3 mg/kg DON-contaminated diet + 0.6% taurine). Our findings indicated that taurine supplementation improved growth performance and alleviated DON-induced liver injury, as evidenced by the reduced pathological and serum biochemical changes (ALT, AST, ALP, and LDH), especially in the group with the 0.3% taurine. Taurine could counteract hepatic oxidative stress in piglets exposed to DON, as it reduced ROS, 8-OHdG, and MDA concentrations and improved the activity of antioxidant enzymes. Concurrently, taurine was observed to upregulate the expression of key factors involved in mitochondrial function and the Nrf2 signaling pathway. Furthermore, taurine treatment effectively attenuated DON-induced hepatocyte apoptosis, as verified through the decreased proportion of TUNEL-positive cells and regulation of the mitochondria-mediated apoptosis pathway. Finally, the administration of taurine was able to reduce liver inflammation due to DON, by inactivating the NF-κB signaling pathway and declining the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. In summary, our results implied that taurine effectively improved DON-induced liver injury. The underlying mechanism should be that taurine restored mitochondrial normal function and antagonized oxidative stress, thereby reducing apoptosis and inflammatory responses in the liver of weaned piglets.

Investigation of taurine and aqueous garlic extract diet supplementation effect on the healing of rat osteoporotic fractures.

BACKGROUND: We have evaluated the effects of taurine and aqueous garlic extract (AGE) as a dietary supplement on osteoporotic fracture (OPF) healing in the ovariectomized rat femur fracture model. METHODS: In this experimental animal study,twenty-four osteoporosis-remodeled female Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (n: 8) according to their supplemented diet; control, taurine, and AGE groups. Unilateral femur middiaphysis mini-open osteotomy was stabilized with Kirschner wires. Six weeks after osteotomy, the rats were sacrificed before the femurs were harvested and OPF healing was evaluated with biochemical, histologic, microcomputed-tomography, and scintigraphic methods. RESULTS: As an indicator of the antiosteoporotic effect, the calcium levels of the taurine group were significantly lower than the AGE and control groups in biochemical analyzes (p < 0.01). In histological studies, the new bone diameter and new bone volume values of the taurine group were significantly higher than the control group (p = 0.002 and p = 0.032, respectively), while higher trabecular-compact callus was observed in the taurine and AGE groups, respectively, compared to the control group. In morphological analyses, taurine and AGE groups had significantly higher bone volume/tissue volume, trabecular number, bone surface density, and lower trabecular separation than the control group (p < 0.05). The scintigraphic imaging showed a significant increase in osteoblastic activity of the taurine group compared to the control group (p = 0.005). DISCUSSION: Taurine and AGE have positive anabolic effects, respectively, on the healing of OPFs, demonstrated by biochemical, histological, morphological, and scintigraphic methods.

Taurine treatment of retinal degeneration and cardiomyopathy in a consanguineous family with SLC6A6 taurine transporter deficiency.

In a consanguineous Pakistani family with two affected individuals, a homozygous variant Gly399Val in the eighth transmembrane domain of the taurine transporter SLC6A6 was identified resulting in a hypomorph transporting capacity of ~15% compared with normal. Three-dimensional modeling of this variant has indicated that it likely causes displacement of the Tyr138 (TM3) side chain, important for transport of taurine. The affected individuals presented with rapidly progressive childhood retinal degeneration, cardiomyopathy and almost undetectable plasma taurine levels. Oral taurine supplementation of 100 mg/kg/day resulted in maintenance of normal blood taurine levels. Following approval by the ethics committee, a long-term supplementation treatment was introduced. Remarkably, after 24-months, the cardiomyopathy was corrected in both affected siblings, and in the 6-years-old, the retinal degeneration was arrested, and the vision was clinically improved. Similar therapeutic approaches could be employed in Mendelian phenotypes caused by the dysfunction of the hundreds of other molecular transporters.

Mechanism of taurine reducing inflammation and organ injury in sepsis mice.

The fundamental basis for the pathogenesis of sepsis is an inflammatory imbalance, which is considered to be the main target for treatment. Taurine is an intracellular free amino acid that has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. To investigate the protective mechanism of taurine in sepsis, we used in vitro and in vivo experiments to explore the effects of taurine on neutrophil and monocyte immune function. Metabolomic analysis showed large amounts of taurine in neutrophils and monocytes and a dramatic decrease in taurine levels after LPS exposure. Taurine supplementation decreased the expressions of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) in LPS-challenged neutrophils and monocytes and reduced the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps by restricting reactive oxygen species. Moreover, taurine protected septic mice from death, improved tissue injuries in the lung, liver, and kidney by reducing neutrophil infiltration and TNF-α production. Our data indicate that a supplement with taurine might be a promising therapeutic strategy for sepsis to reduce hyper inflammation and improve multi-organ dysfunctions.

Taurine alleviates kidney injury in a thioacetamide rat model by mediating Nrf2/HO-1, NQO-1, and MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathways.

This study investigated the molecular mechanisms by which taurine exerts its reno-protective effects in thioacetamide (TAA) - induced kidney injury in rats. Rats received taurine (100 mg/kg daily, intraperitoneally) either from day 1 of TAA injection (250 mg/kg twice weekly for 6 weeks) or after 6 weeks of TAA administration. Taurine treatment, either concomitant or later as a therapy, restored kidney functions, reduced blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, and malondialdehyde (MDA), increased renal levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), and reversed the increase of kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) caused by TAA. Taurine treatment also led to a significant rise in nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), hemoxygenase-1 (HO-1), and NADPH quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO-1) levels, with significant suppression of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) gene expressions, and interleukin-18 (IL-18) and TNF-α protein levels compared with those in TAA kidney-injured rats. Taurine exhibited reno-protective potential in TAA-induced kidney injury through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Taurine antioxidant activity is accredited for its effect on Nrf-2 induction and subsequent activation of HO-1 and NQO-1. In addition, taurine exerts its anti-inflammatory effect via regulating NF-κB transcription and subsequent production of pro-inflammatory mediators via mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling regulation.

Taurine, an essential ß-amino acid insulates against ketamine-induced experimental psychosis by enhancement of cholinergic neurotransmission, inhibition of oxidative/nitrergic imbalances, and suppression of COX-2/iNOS immunoreactions in mice.

Cholinergic, oxidative, nitrergic alterations, and neuroinflammation are some key neuropathological features common in schizophrenia disease. They involve complex biological processes that alter normal behavior. The present treatments used in the management of the disorder remain ineffective together with some serious side effects as one of their setbacks. Taurine is a naturally occurring essential ß-amino acid reported to elicit antipsychotic property in first episode psychosis in clinical setting, thus require preclinical investigation. Hence, we set out to investigate the effects of taurine in the prevention and reversal of ketamine-induced psychotic-like behaviors and the associated putative neurobiological mechanisms underlying its effects. Adult male Swiss mice were sheared into three separate cohorts of experiments (n = 7): drug alone, preventive and reversal studies. Treatments consisted of saline (10 mL/kg/p.o./day), taurine (50 and 100 mg/kg/p.o./day) and risperidone (0.5 mg/kg/p.o./day) with concomitant ketamine (20 mg/kg/i.p./day) injections between days 8-14, or 14 days entirely. Behavioral hyperactivity, despair, cognitive impairment, and catalepsy were measured. Brain oxidative/nitrergic imbalance, immunoreactivity (COX-2 and iNOS), and cholinergic markers were determined in the striatum, prefrontal-cortex, and hippocampus. Taurine abates ketamine-mediated psychotic-like episodes without cataleptogenic potential. Taurine attenuated ketamine-induced decrease in glutathione, superoxide-dismutase and catalase levels in the striatum, prefrontal-cortex and hippocampus. Also, taurine prevented and reversed ketamine-mediated elevation of malondialdehyde, nitrite contents, acetylcholinesterase activity, and suppressed COX-2 and iNOS expressions in a brain-region dependent manner. Conclusively, taurine insulates against ketamine-mediated psychotic phenotype by normalizing brain central cholinergic neurotransmissions, oxidative, nitrergic and suppression of immunoreactive proteins in mice brains.

Taurine supplementation improves hippocampal metabolism in immature rats with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) through protecting neurons and reducing gliosis.

Taurine as an essential amino acid in the brain could play an important role in protecting the fetal brain of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). The hippocampus with IUGR showed neural metabolic disorder and structure changed that affected memory and learning ability. This study was aimed to identify the effect of taurine supplementation on the metabolism alterations and cellular composition changes of the hippocampus in IUGR immature rats. Metabolite concentrations were determined by magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in the hippocampus of juvenile rats with IUGR following taurine supplementation with antenatal or postnatal supply. The composition of neural cells in the hippocampus was observed by immunohistochemical staining (IHC) and western blotting (WB). Antenatal taurine supplementation increased the ratios of N-acetylaspartate (NAA) /creatine (Cr) and glutamate (Glu) /Cr of the hippocampus in the IUGR immature rats, but reduced the ratios of choline (Cho) /Cr and myoinositol (mI) /Cr. At the same time, the protein expression of NeuN in the IUGR rats was increased through intrauterine taurine supplementation, and the GFAP expression was reduced. Especially the effect of antenatal taurine was better than postpartum. Furthermore, there existed a positive correlation between the NAA/Cr ratio and the NeuN protein expression (R = 0.496 p < 0.001 IHC; R = 0.568 p < 0.001 WB), the same results existed in the relationship between the mI/Cr ratio and the GFAP protein expression (R = 0.338 p = 0.019 IHC; R = 0.440 p = 0.002 WB). Prenatal taurine supplementation can better improve hippocampal neuronal metabolism by increasing NAA / Cr ratio related to the number of neurons and reducing Cho / Cr ratio related to the number of glial cells.

Effects of Dietary Taurine-Containing Jelly Supplementation on Academic-Related Characteristics and Academic Achievement in Korean College Entrance Examinees: A Pilot Study.

Taurine is known to play roles in fatigue recovery and relief of anxiety and stress. This pilot study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary taurine-containing jelly supplementation on the academic-related characteristics of Korean college entrance examinees. The jelly contained 3 g of taurine in a packet and was provided to the subjects with one packet per day for 2 weeks. The academic-related characteristics of subjects were evaluated by academic-related attitude (using School Attitude Assessment Survey-R; SAAS-R), CEES (college entrance examination stress), and SRL (self-regulated learning) and academic achievement and were conducted using a self-administered questionnaire. The total number of subjects in this study was 17, and they were divided into taurine supplementation group (n = 9, TSG) and placebo group (n = 8, PG) by randomization. The results were compared before and after 2 weeks of dietary taurine-containing jelly supplementation for each group. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 25.0. The total score (p = 0.069) and motivation/self-regulation score (p = 0.060) in SAAS-R tended to be significantly higher in the TSG after 2 weeks of supplementation compared to before supplementation. The score change of academic achievement in TSG was positively correlated with a total score change of SRL. In addition, as a result of simple regression analysis, a total score changes of SRL had a positive effect on a change of academic achievement score in TSG (explanatory power: 42.9%). The results of this pilot study showed that dietary taurine-containing jelly supplementation may have some effects on academic-related characteristics with a positive change in SRL. Therefore, it may be beneficial to supplement dietary taurine-containing jelly to improve academic-related characteristics such as self-regulated learning of students preparing for the college entrance exam.

The Disease-Modifying Role of Taurine and Its Therapeutic Potential in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Taurine is an amino sulfonic acid that is implicated in numerous physiological functions, including the regulation of oxidative stress, which plays an important role in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), together with other pathophysiological processes. The recent finding of decreased serum taurine levels in SARS-CoV-2-infected patients, in tandem with its potential modulatory role in COVID-19 due to its antiviral, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and vascular-related effects, provides a rationale for considering taurine as a beneficial supplement in patients suffering from COVID-19. Here, we reviewed the potential disease-modifying effects of taurine and combined these with the current knowledge on COVID-19 to clarify the potential role of taurine in this respiratory disease.

Taurine and N-Bromotaurine in Topical Treatment of Psoriasis.

Psoriasis is a chronic skin auto-inflammatory and systemic disorder. Novel treatments are needed to solve a plethora of cases refractory to current treatment regimens. N-bromotaurine (TauNH-Br), a natural taurine oxidizing derivative produced by inflammatory cells, has anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, and antimicrobial properties. This evidence prompted us to use TauNH-Br as a local agent for treatment of therapy-refractory psoriasis. Two pustular-plaque psoriasis cases, unresponsive to systemic and local treatments, one with localized lesions and one with generalized lesions, were selected. Both applications primarily indicated a sufficient curative activity of 1% TauNH-Br in psoriasis lesions. Moreover, TauNH-Br co-administration with taurine and a novel olive oil formulation cut in half the time needed for TauNH-Br alone to cause the same regression of equivalent psoriasis plaque lesions in the same patient. Importantly, all adverse effects of TauNH-Br (erythema, itching, bleeding) could be minimized by the combination therapy. Periods of 2-7 weeks to achieve almost complete regression with this formulation were remarkably short as compared to conventional treatment regimens that both patients had followed previously. Of note, there was no relapse within 3 months of monitoring. Combination formulations containing TauNH-Br and olive oil could become an advantageous topical medication for treatment of psoriasis.

Taurine and Exercise: Synergistic Effects on Adipose Tissue Metabolism and Inflammatory Process in Obesity.

Taurine has been investigated as a possible strategy for the treatment of obesity. The benefits of taurine supplementation and the importance of adipose tissue to the whole-body energy metabolism are undeniable; however, the impact of the association of taurine and exercise on adipose tissue dynamics remains unclear, especially in the context of obesity. The present investigation sought to explore the effects of taurine supplementation associated with physical exercise as an excellent strategy for treating and preventing obesity. We highlighted the main studies that support the effects of taurine associated with exercise on the modulation of energy and lipid metabolism and also its impacts on the adipose tissue metabolism and morphology in obese individuals and obese animal models, suggesting taurine as a promising strategy to combat obesity. However, more investigations are necessary to elucidate the safe and effective dose, the mechanisms, and the potential effects of taurine supplementation associated with exercise in the adipose tissue as a therapeutic strategy for preventing and treating obesity.

Examination of Taurine Chloramine and Taurine on LPS-Induced Acute Pulmonary Inflammatory in Mice.

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which is prevalent in the world, develops severe pneumonia, of which 30% have fatal acute respiratory distress and acute lung injury. At present, there is no established treatment method for ARDS, and it is desired to develop a therapeutic drug as soon as possible. While TauCl has been reported to have anti-inflammatory effects on culture cells, little information is available concerning in vivo experiments. In the present study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory effect of taurine chloramine (TauCl), a taurine derivative, against LPS-induced pneumonia in mouse. The mice were pretreated with TauCl intraperitoneally before intratracheal administration of LPS. Additionally, we evaluated the effect of taurine treatment by maintaining the mice on drinking water containing 0.5% taurine. Two days after LPS injection, body weight was decreased by 9.5 %, while lung weight was increased due to the infiltration of inflammatory cells; TauCl attenuated the gain in lung weight. LPS-induced acute pneumonia caused an increase in cytokine/chemokine mRNA expression, including that of IL-1ß, -6, -17, TNF-α, and MCP-1. However, TauCl treatment attenuated IL-6 expression, but not that of the others although the induction of plasma IL-6 tended to be reduced by TauCl treatment. Importantly, a similar effect against LPS-induced acute lung inflammation was confirmed by taurine pretreatment. These findings suggest that TauCl treatment partially prevents IL-6 production induced by acute pneumonia in vivo.

Current Opinion on the Therapeutic Capacity of Taurine-Containing Halogen Derivatives in Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases.

Taurine haloamines, N-chlorotaurine (NCT, TauCl), and N-bromotaurine (NBT, TauBr) are formed by a reaction between taurine and hypohalous acids, HOCl and HOBr, respectively. The major source of endogenous taurine haloamines is neutrophils. Both NCT and NBT share strong anti-inflammatory and microbicidal activities supported by an absence of microbial resistance. In the light of these properties, a number of clinical studies have been performed to document their effectiveness in treatment of bacterial, fungal, and viral infections. The administration of NCT and NBT has been limited to topical application, as they are decomposed upon systemic delivery. This review summarizes current knowledge concerning the therapeutic use of NCT and NBT mainly in various skin disorders such as non-healing wounds, acne vulgaris, herpes zoster, and psoriasis. Moreover, the beneficial effect of NCT inhalation in early stages of COVID-19 and other viral respiratory infections is discussed. And finally, we would like to suggest that NCT might be used to inhibit the development of the cytokine storm through its capacity to suppress the production of IL-6.

Taurine and Its Anticancer Functions: In Vivo and In Vitro Study.

Taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid) is a natural amino acid that is found widely in all mammalian tissues. Several studies have demonstrated that taurine has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and hypoglycemic effects. Recently, taurine not only mitigates the side effects of chemotherapy in cancer but also possesses antitumor properties, including inhibiting cancer cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis in certain cancers by differential regulating proapoptotic and antiapoptotic proteins. Antitumor studies of taurine are still in their infancy, and the mechanism of its antitumor effect is not fully understood. In this regard, it is worthwhile to study the antitumor mechanism of taurine, which may provide clues to develop new synthetic therapeutic molecules. In this mini review, we summarize the main effects of taurine that have shown suppressing actions in the initiation and progression of cancers. The underlying molecular mechanism also suggested that taurine can be a potential clinical application in tumor therapy. In addition, with the in-depth study of different biological functions of taurine, we found that many systemic diseases are associated with taurine. In this review, the research progress of taurine's antitumor effect is briefly summarized including the in vivo and in vitro studies in our laboratory.