1. Role of taurine in the central nervous system.
- Author
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Jang-Yen Wu and Prentice, Howard
- Subjects
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TAURINE , *NEUROTRANSMITTERS , *CENTRAL nervous system physiology , *G proteins , *PHOSPHOLIPASES , *NEUROPROTECTIVE agents , *THERAPEUTICS - Abstract
Taurine demonstrates multiple cellular functions including a central role as a neurotransmitter, as a trophic factor in CNS development, in maintaining the structural integrity of the membrane, in regulating calcium transport and homeostasis, as an osmolyte, as a neuromodulator and as a neuroprotectant. The neurotransmitter properties of taurine are illustrated by its ability to elicit neuronal hyperpolarization, the presence of specific taurine synthesizing enzyme and receptors in the CNS and the presence of a taurine transporter system. Taurine exerts its neuroprotective functions against the glutamate induced excitotoxicity by reducing the glutamate-induced increase of intracellular calcium level, by shifting the ratio of Bcl-2 and Bad ratio in favor of cell survival and by reducing the ER stress. The presence of metabotropic taurine receptors which are negatively coupled to phospholipase C (PLC) signaling pathway through inhibitory G proteins is proposed, and the evidence supporting this notion is also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2010
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