Taurine transporter is expressed in vascular smooth muscle cells.
The regulation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) function by taurine has been a subject of increasing interest and investigation, and taurine is taken up into cells through a specific transporter system, the taurine transporter (TAUT). In the present study, we examined the expression of TAUT in VSMCs and the kinetic parameters of the uptake process of TAUT in VSMCs. RT-PCR and western blot demonstrated that the mRNA and protein of TAUT was expressed in VSMCs in vitro. Immunohistochemistry using antibody for TAUT revealed the expression of this protein in rat thoracic aorta. The maximal [(3)H]taurine uptake rate in VSMCs was 37.75 +/- 3.13 pmol/min per mg of protein, with a K ( m ) value of 5.42 +/- 0.81 microM. Thus, VSMCs are able to express a functional taurine transporter. The regulation and detailed function of taurine and TAUT in VSMCs remain unclear, but our findings suggest a functional role for them in VSMCs metabolism.
Liao
X-B
XB
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The Second Xiang-Ya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
Zhou
X-M
XM
Li
J-M
JM
Tan
Z-P
ZP
Liu
L-M
LM
Zhang
W
W
Tan
H
H
Lu
Y
Y
Yuan
L-Q
LQ
D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000378:metabolism*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013654:Taurine / Q000378:metabolism*; D000099247:Taurine Transporters
D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013654:Taurine; D000099247:Taurine Transporters