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Taurine and atherosclerosis

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Abstract

Taurine is abundantly present in most mammalian tissues and plays a role in many important physiological functions. Atherosclerosis is the underlying mechanism of cardiovascular disease including myocardial infarctions, strokes and peripheral artery disease and remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Studies conducted in laboratory animal models using both genetic and dietary models of hyperlipidemia have demonstrated that taurine supplementation retards the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. Epidemiological studies have also suggested that taurine exerts preventive effects on cardiovascular diseases. The present review focuses on the effects of taurine on the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. In addition, the potential mechanisms by which taurine suppress the development of atherosclerosis will be discussed.

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Abbreviations

CYP:

Cytochrome P450

HDL:

High density lipoprotein

HepG2:

Human hepatocellular liver carcinoma cell line

HMG-CoA:

3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A

HUVEC:

Human umbilical vein endothelial cells

ICAM-1:

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1

I-kB:

Inhibitor of nuclear factorκ-B

LDL:

Low density lipoprotein

LOX-1:

Lectin-like oxidized low density lipoprotein receptor-1

NF-κB:

Nuclear factor-κB

NO:

Nitric oxide

PDGF:

Platelet-derived growth factor

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

SMC:

Smooth muscle cell

Tau-Cl:

Taurine chloramine

TNF-α:

Tumor necrosis factor-α

VLDL:

Very low density lipoprotein

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The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest associated with this study.

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  1. R&D Headquarters, Self Medication Business, Taisho Pharmaceutical Co Ltd, 24-1 Takada 3-chome, Toshima-ku, Tokyo, 170-8633, Japan

    Shigeru Murakami

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Murakami, S. Taurine and atherosclerosis. Amino Acids 46, 73–80 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-012-1432-6

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