title: The effect of taurine on hepatic steatosis induced by thioacetamide in zebrafish (Danio rerio).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is one of the most prevalent forms of chronic liver disease in the Western world. Taurine is a conditionally essential amino acid in humans that may be a promising therapy for treating this disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of taurine on hepatic steatosis induced by thioacetamide in Danio rerio.
  
  
  METHODS
  Animals were divided into four groups: control (20 μl of saline solution), taurine (1,000 mg/kg), thioacetamide (300 mg/kg), and the taurine-thioacetamide group (1,000 + 300 mg/kg). Thioacetamide was injected intraperitoneally three times a week for 2 weeks. The mRNA expression, lipoperoxidation, antioxidant enzymatic activity, and histological analyses were evaluated in the liver and the triglyceride content was assessed in the serum.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thioacetamide injection induced steatosis, as indicated by histological analyses. The lipoperoxidation showed significant lipid damage in the thioacetamide group compared to the taurine-thioacetamide group (p < 0.001). Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the taurine-thioacetamide group (5.95 ± 0.40) was significantly increased compared to the thioacetamide group (4.14 ± 0.18 U SOD/mg of protein) (p < 0.001). The mRNA expression of SIRT1 (0.5-fold) and Adiponectin receptor 2 (0.39-fold) were lower in the thioacetamide group than the control (p < 0.05). TNF-α mRNA expression was 6.4-fold higher in the thioacetamide group than the control (p < 0.05). SIRT1 mRNA expression was 2.6-fold higher in the taurine-thioacetamide group than in the thioacetamide group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taurine seems to improve hepatic steatosis by reducing oxidative stress and increasing SIRT1 expression.
authors: Laboratório de Hepatologia e Gastroenterologia Experimental, Centro de Pesquisa Experimental, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Rua Ramiro Barcelos 2350, Porto Alegre, RS 90035-903, Brazil. thaisortizhammes@gmail.com
authors: Thais Ortiz
authors: TO
authors: Hammes
authors: Gabriela Lima
authors: GL
authors: Pedroso
authors: Carolina Rigatti
authors: CR
authors: Hartmann
authors: Thayssa Dalla Costa
authors: TD
authors: Escobar
authors: Laisa Beduschi
authors: LB
authors: Fracasso
authors: Darlan Pase
authors: DP
authors: da Rosa
authors: Norma Possa
authors: NP
authors: Marroni
authors: Marilene
authors: M
authors: Porawski
authors: Themis Reverbel
authors: TR
authors: da Silveira
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D054419:Receptors, Adiponectin / Q000235:genetics; D056564:Sirtuin 1 / Q000235:genetics; D013654:Taurine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013853:Thioacetamide / Q000633:toxicity*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics; D015027:Zebrafish; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D054419:Receptors, Adiponectin; D014280:Triglycerides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; D013853:Thioacetamide; D013654:Taurine; D056564:Sirtuin 1