Taurine Metabolism and Its Physiological Impacts
Summary
Taurine is a sulphur-containing amino acid synthesised primarily in the liver and kidney via the cysteine sulfinic acid pathway. It circulates in millimolar concentrations, particularly in excitable tissues such as heart, brain, retina and skeletal muscle. Within cells, taurine functions as an osmolyte, stabilising membrane structures and regulating cellular water balance. It conjugates bile acids to facilitate lipid digestion, buffers the mitochondrial matrix to optimise enzyme activity during β-oxidation of fatty acids, and modulates intracellular calcium homeostasis. Taurine also contributes to antioxidant defence by scavenging reactive species and by forming taurine chloramine, which dampens inflammatory responses. In the central nervous system, taurine acts as a neuromodulator, attenuating excitotoxicity and supporting neurodevelopment. Metabolically, it influences glucose and lipid homeostasis, insulin sensitivity and energy expenditure. Alterations in taurine availability have been linked to cardiomyopathy, hepatic injury, muscle senescence, metabolic syndrome and neurodegenerative disorders. Dietary supplementation and pharmacological strategies aimed at restoring cellular taurine levels are under investigation to mitigate oxidative stress, inflammation and age-related decline. Growing evidence supports its role in maintaining organ function, preventing chronic disease and promoting healthy ageing across diverse populations.
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Taurine Metabolism and Its Physiological Impacts publication trend
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Technical terms
Taurine chloramine (Tau-Cl): an oxidised derivative of taurine formed by reaction with hypochlorous acid, acting as an anti-inflammatory mediator.
Nrf2: a transcription factor that, when released from its inhibitor Keap1, induces expression of antioxidant and cytoprotective genes.
Cellular senescence: a state of permanent cell-cycle arrest triggered by stress, characterised by altered metabolism and secretory profiles.
Osmolyte: a small organic molecule that cells accumulate to balance osmotic pressure and protect macromolecular structures.
Mitochondrial matrix buffer: the role of taurine in maintaining an alkaline pH within the mitochondrial matrix to optimise enzyme activity during energy metabolism.
References
- Taurine ameliorates cellular senescence associated with an increased hydrogen sulfide and a decreased hepatokine, IGFBP-1, in CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. Redox Biology (2025).
- Taurine Chloramine-Mediated Nrf2 Activation and HO-1 Induction Confer Protective Effects in Astrocytes. Antioxidants (2024).
- The Role of Taurine in Mitochondria Health: More Than Just an Antioxidant. Molecules (2021).
- Taurine and inflammatory diseases. Amino Acids (2012).
- Role of taurine in the central nervous system. Journal of Biomedical Science (2010).
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