title: Characterization and regulation of taurine transport in Caco-2, human intestinal cells.
abstract: We characterized the taurine transport system in human intestinal Caco-2 cells and showed that it is subject to adaptive regulation. The activity of taurine transport in Caco-2 cells was evaluated by means of an Na+- and Cl(-)-dependent high-affinity transport system, the characteristics of which were similar to those of the beta-amino acid-specific taurine transport system previously described for various tissues. The activity of taurine transport was down-regulated on culturing in taurine-containing medium. This taurine-induced down-regulation was dependent on both the incubation time with taurine and the concentration of taurine. Hypotaurine and beta-alanine were also capable of inducing this adaptive regulation, whereas alpha-amino acids and gamma-aminoisobutyric acid were not. Kinetic analysis of control and taurine-treated cells suggested that the down-regulation was associated with a decrease in the maximal velocity of taurine transport and also with a decrease in the affinity of the taurine transporter. Cycloheximide treatment weakened the taurine-induced down-regulation. The mRNA level of the taurine transporter (HTAU type) in taurine-treated cells was markedly decreased compared with in control cells. These results indicate that a complex regulatory mechanism is involved in this down-regulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, The University of Tokyo.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Satsu
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arai
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimizu
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D001692:Biological Transport; D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D003078:Colchicine / Q000494:pharmacology; D003513:Cycloheximide / Q000494:pharmacology; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000378:metabolism*; D007700:Kinetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013654:Taurine / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013654:Taurine; D003513:Cycloheximide; D003078:Colchicine