title: Taurine attenuates acute hyperglycaemia-induced endothelial cell apoptosis, leucocyte-endothelial cell interactions and cardiac dysfunction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hyperglycaemia is implicated in microvascular inflammatory injury and subsequent cardiac injury/dysfunction. Leucocyte adhesion to the endothelium, migration into tissue and toxic metabolite release are early critical steps. Taurine is a semi-essential amino acid that is endothelial protective and restrains excess leucocyte activity by the formation of less toxic inflammatory mediators. The aim was to establish if taurine reduces acute hyperglycaemia-induced endothelial cell apoptosis and leucocyte interactions and associated cardiac abnormalities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male Sprague-Dawley rats (190-250 g) were randomised to control, hyperglycaemia, and hyperglycaemia plus taurine pre-treated groups. Taurine was gavaged (200 mg/kg body weight) for 5 days. Intravenous hyperglycaemia was established which was 4 times that of baseline for the 3-hour experiment. Using intravital microscopy, mesenteric post-capillary venules were examined for leucocyte rolling, adhesion and migration every 30 min from baseline. Endothelial cell apoptosis and intracellular adhesion molecule (ICAM-1) expression were assessed. In a separate experiment, blood pressure, pulse rate, cardiac injury marker (troponin T), cardiac tissue injury and oedema were also assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hyperglycaemia significantly increased leucocyte adhesion and migration. Blood pressure and troponin T were also elevated significantly. Taurine prevented these cardiac changes, endothelial cell apoptosis and ICAM-1 expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taurine may have a therapeutic role in reducing diabetic microvascular inflammatory injury and concomitant cardiac dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Research, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. rowcasey@rcsi.ie
authors.forename: Rowan G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Casey
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gang
authors.forename: Myles
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Joyce
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Bouchier-Hayes
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D005947:Glucose; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D036904:Leukocyte Rolling / Q000187:drug effects; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D011674:Pulse; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013654:Taurine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors; D020107:Troponin T / Q000097:blood; D014699:Venules / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D020107:Troponin T; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D013654:Taurine; D005947:Glucose