Taurine reduces inflammatory responses after spinal cord injury.
Taurine has multiple functions in the central nervous system (CNS), serving as an osmoregulator, antioxidant, inhibitory neuromodulator, and regulator of intracellular Ca(2+) flux. Since the role of taurine in traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is not fully understood, the present study was conducted with C57 black/6 mice (18-20 g) who underwent severe SCI at the Th-8 level using a weight compression device. Taurine was injected intraperitoneally at doses of 25, 80, 250, and 800 mg/kg within 30 min after SCI. Controls were injected with saline. The contusional cord segments were removed 6 h after SCI, and concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were measured using ELISA kits. Phosphorylation of STAT3, which is activated by IL-6, and expression of inducible cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were also compared between the taurine treatment group (250 mg/kg) and the control group by Western blot analysis. Morphological changes were evaluated with H&E-stained sections. Taurine significantly decreased IL-6 and MPO levels in a dose-dependent manner, significantly reducing the phosphorylation of STAT3 and expression of COX-2 after SCI compared to controls. A reduced accumulation of neutrophils, especially in the subarachnoid spaces, and secondary degenerative changes in gray matter were also noted, and motor disturbances were significantly attenuated with taurine treatment (250 mg/kg). These findings indicate that taurine has anti-inflammatory effects against SCI, and may play a neuroprotective role against secondary damage, and thus it may have therapeutic potential.
Nakajima
Yasuhiro
Y
Department of Neurosurgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Aichi, Japan.
Osuka
Koji
K
Seki
Yukio
Y
Gupta
Ramesh C
RC
Hara
Masahito
M
Takayasu
Masakazu
M
Wakabayashi
Toshihiko
T
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D020556:Neutrophil Infiltration / Q000187:drug effects; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000096:biosynthesis; D010766:Phosphorylation; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D013654:Taurine / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D015850:Interleukin-6; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; D013654:Taurine; D009195:Peroxidase; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2