Beneficial effects of taurine on cardiac abnormality in NZB/W F1 mice fed with a high-cholesterol diet.
A significantly higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is reported in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) as compared with the general population and accounts for approximately 30% of deaths in SLE patients. However, the mechanism of and treatments for CVD in patients with SLE are still unclear. To explore the effects of taurine on cardiac abnormality in SLE, NZB/W F1 mice were used as the experimental model by receiving control, cholesterol, or cholesterol/taurine diets, respectively. Improved cardiac histopathological changes were observed in left ventricle tissues from the cholesterol/taurine group as compared to the control or cholesterol group. Significant reductions of TUNEL-positive cells, Fas death receptor-related components, mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis, cardiac fibrosis, and fibrotic signaling components were detected in the left ventricle tissues from the cholesterol/taurine group as compared to the control or cholesterol group. Additionally, cardiac IGR1R survival signaling components were significantly increased in the left ventricle tissues from the cholesterol/taurine group as compared to the control or cholesterol group. These findings revealed the protective effects of taurine against the cardiac abnormalities in NZB/W F1 mice and may suggest the potential for clinical application of taurine in treatment of CVD in SLE.
Huang
Chih-Yang
CY
Graduate Institute of Chinese Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Hsu
Tsai-Ching
TC
Kuo
Wei-Wen
WW
Wu
Shih-Ping
SP
Lin
Yueh-Min
YM
Yen
Chun-Yu
CY
Wu
Jen-Huang
JH
Tzang
Bor-Show
BS
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications*; D051379:Mice; D008814:Mice, Inbred NZB; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D013654:Taurine / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D013654:Taurine