Taurine protects R28 cells from hypoxia/re-oxygenation-induced damage via regulation of mitochondrial energy metabolism

Taurine mechanism in preventing retinal cell damage from acute ocular hypertension through GTPBP3 regulation

We aimed to explore the protective effects and underlying mechanisms of taurine on retinal cells during acute ocular hypertension (AOH)-induced damage. Retinal morphology, apoptosis, mitochondrial structure, electroretinography, expression of GTP binding protein 3 (GTPBP3), and molecules in the unfolded protein response (UPR) were examined in an AOH mouse model and wild-type (WT) mice with or without intravitreal injection of taurine. For in vitro experiments, the GTPBP3 expression and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress were examined in R28 cell line under hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced damage or hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-induced damage, with or without taurine pretreatment. Taurine pretreatment alleviated retinal damage caused by AOH modeling. The GTPBP3 expression level decreased after AOH injury, and taurine pretreatment reversed this reduction. Retinas with decreased GTPBP3 expression showed reduced retinal ganglion cell (RGC) function, which could be reversed by intravitreal taurine injection. In H2O2-, H/R-, and AOH-induced damage, UPR were activated and alleviated by taurine pretreatment. GTPBP3 knockdown in R28 cells also activated the UPR, which was alleviated by taurine. A UPR activator downregulated GTPBP3 levels in normal R28 cells, whereas a UPR inhibitor upregulated GTPBP3 levels in GTPBP3 knockdown R28 cells. In conclusion, this study provides important evidence that taurine prevents retinal cell damage in mice exposed to AOH and modulates GTPBP3 expression via the UPR pathway. Interventions targeting this mechanism can be used as potential therapeutic targets for AOH damage.

Taurine induces hormesis in multiple biological models: May have transformative implications for overall societal health

This paper represents the first integrative assessment and documentation of taurine-induced hormetic effects in the biological and biomedical areas, their dose response features, mechanistic frameworks, and possible public health, therapeutic and commercial applications. Taurine-induced hormetic effects are documented in a wide range of experimental models, cell types and for numerous biological endpoints, with most of these experimental findings being reported within the past five years. It is suggested that the concept of hormesis may have a transformative effect on taurine research and its public health and therapeutic applications.

Taurine promotes muscle fiber type transformation through CaN/NFATc1 signaling in porcine myoblasts

This study investigated the effect of taurine (TAU) on the muscle fiber type transformation in porcine myoblasts and its molecular mechanisms. The findings revealed that TAU augmented the protein expression of slow MyHC and the enzyme activities of oxidative metabolism markers like malate dehydrogenase and succinic dehydrogenase. Conversely, it curtailed the expression of fast MyHC and glycolytic metabolism enzyme activity of lactate dehydrogenase. Moreover, TAU elevated the expression of genes associated with oxidative fiber while diminishing the expression of those linked to glycolytic fibers, suggesting that TAU promoted the muscle fiber type transformation from glycolytic fiber to oxidative fiber. Additionally, TAU notably enhanced the expression of key molecules of calcineurin (CaN)/nuclear factor of activated T cells c1 (NFATc1) signaling and the CaN activity in porcine myoblasts. However, CaN inhibitor cyclosporine A abolished these effects induced by TAU. Our results indicated that TAU regulated the muscle fiber type transformation from glycolytic to oxidative fiber by activation of CaN/NFATc1 signaling.