Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Taurine: A therapeutic agent in experimental kidney disease

  • Review Article
  • Published:
Amino Acids Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Taurine is an abundant free amino acid in the plasma and cytosol. The kidney plays a pivotal role in maintaining taurine balance. Immunohistochemical studies reveal a unique localization pattern of the amino acid along the nephron. Taurine acts as an antioxidant in a variety ofin vitro andin vivo systems. It prevents lipid peroxidation of glomerular mesangial cells and renal tubular epithelial cells exposed to high glucose or hypoxic culture conditions. Dietary taurine supplementation ameliorates experimental renal disease including models of refractory nephrotic syndrome and diabetic nephropathy. The beneficial effects of taurine are mediated by its antioxidant action. It does not attenuate ischemic or nephrotoxic acute renal failure or chronic renal failure due to sub-total ablation of kidney mass. Additional work is required to fully explain the scope and mechanism of action of taurine as a renoprotective agent in experimental kidney disease. Clinical trials are warranted to determine the usefulness of this amino acid as an adjunctive treatment of progressive glomerular disease and diabetic nephropathy.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Amiry-Moghaddam M, Nagelhus E, Ottersen OP (1994) Light- and electron microscopic distribution of taurine, an organic osmolyte, in rat renal tubule cells. Kidney Int 45: 10–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Arouma OI, Halliwell B, Hoey BM, Butler J (1988) The antioxidant action of taurine, hypotaurine, and their metabolic precursors. Biochem J 256: 251–255

    Google Scholar 

  • Baines AD, Shaikh N, Ho P (1990) Mechanisms of perfused kidney cytoprotection by alanine and glycine. Am J Physiol 259: F80-F87

    Google Scholar 

  • Banks MA, Porter DW, Martin WG, Castranova V (1990) Effects of in vitro ozone exposure on peroxidative damage: membrane leakage and taurine content of rat alveolar macrophages. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 105: 55–65

    Google Scholar 

  • Baynes JW (1991) Role of oxidative stress in development of complications in diabetes. Diabetes 40: 405–412

    Google Scholar 

  • Bergstrom J, Alvestrand A, Furst P, Lindholm B (1989) Sulphur amino acids in plasma and muscle in patients with chronic renal failure: evidence for taurine depletion. J Intern Med 226: 189–194

    Google Scholar 

  • Brenner BM, Anderson S (1992) The interrelationships among filtration surface area, blood pressure, and chronic renal disease. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol 19 [Suppl] 6: S1-S7

    Google Scholar 

  • Cantin AM (1994) Taurine modulation of hypochlorous acid-induced lung epithelial cell injury in vitro: role of anion transport. J Clin Invest 93: 606–614

    Google Scholar 

  • Ceballos I, Chauveau P, Guerin V, Bardet J, Parvy P, Kamoun P, Jungers P (1990) Early alterations of plasma free amino acids in chronic renal failure. Clin Chim Acta 188: 101–108

    Google Scholar 

  • Chesney RW (1985) Taurine: its biological role and clinical implications. Adv Pediatr 32: 1–42

    Google Scholar 

  • Chesney RW, Gusowski N, Dabbagh S (1985) Renal cortex taurine content regulates renal adaptive response to altered dietary intake of sulfur amino acids. J Clin Invest 76: 2213–2221

    Google Scholar 

  • Chesney RW, Gusowski N, Zelikovic I, Padilla M (1986) Developmental aspects of renalβ-amino acid transport. V. Brush border membrane transport in nursing animals: effect of age and diet. Pediatr Res 20: 890–894

    Google Scholar 

  • Culpepper RW, Schoolwerth AC (1992) Remnant kidney oxygen consumption: hypermetabolism or hyperbole? J Am Soc Nephrol 3: 151–156

    Google Scholar 

  • Diamond JR, Bonventre JV, Karnovsky MJ (1986) A role for oxygen free radicals in aminonucleoside nephrosis. Kidney Int 29: 478–483

    Google Scholar 

  • Endreffy E, Turi S, Laszik Z, Bereczki C, Kasa K (1991) Effects of vitamin E on tissue oxidation in nephrotoxic (anti-glomerular basement membrane) nephritis. Pediatr Nephrol 5: 312–317

    Google Scholar 

  • Franconi F, Bennardini F, Mattana A, Miceli M, Ciuti M, Mian M, Gironi A, Anichini R, Seghieri G (1995) Plasma and platelet taurine are reduced in subjects with insulindependent diabetes mellitus: effects of taurine supplementation. Am J Clin Nutr 61: 1115–1119

    Google Scholar 

  • Fujita T, Sato Y (1988) Hypotensive effect of taurine: possible involvement of the sympathetic nervous system and endogenous opiates. J Clin Invest 82: 993–997

    Google Scholar 

  • Fujita T, Sato Y, Ando K (1986) Changes in cardiac and hypothalamic noradrenergic activity with taurine in DOCA-salt rats. Am J Physiol 251: H926-H933

    Google Scholar 

  • Fujita T, Ando K, Noda H, Ito Y, Sato Y (1987) Effects of increased adrenomedullary activity and tauring in young patients with borderline hypertension. Circulation 75: 525–532

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaull GE (1989) Taurine in pediatric nutrition: review and update. Pediatrics 83: 433–442

    Google Scholar 

  • Ginveri F, Gusmano R, Oleggini R, et al. (1990) Renal purine efflux and xanthine oxidase activity during experimental nephrosis in rats: difference between puromycin aminonucleoside and adriamycin nephrosis. Clin Sci 78: 283–293

    Google Scholar 

  • Goodman HO, Shihabi ZK (1990) Supplemental taurihne in diabetic rats: effects on plasma glucose and triglycerides. Biochem Med Metab Biol 43: 1–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Gordon RE, Shaked AA, Solano DF (1986) Taurine protects hamster bronchioles from acute NO2-induced alterations. Am J Pathol 125: 585–600

    Google Scholar 

  • Grond J, Weening JJ, Elema JD (1984) Glomerular sclerosis in nephrotic rats: comparison of the long-term effects of adriamycin and aminonucleoside. Lab Invest 51: 277–284

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamaguchi T, Azuma J, Harada H, Takahashi K, Kishimoto S, Schaffer SW (1989) Protective effect of taurine against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in perfused chick hearts. Pharmacol Res 21: 729–734

    Google Scholar 

  • Heyman S, Spokes K, Rosen S, Epstein FH (1992) Mechanism of glycine protection in hypoxic injury: analogies with glycine receptor. Kidney Int 42: 41–45

    Google Scholar 

  • Huxtable RJ (1992) Physiological actions of taurine. Physiol Rev 72: 101–163

    Google Scholar 

  • Ideishi M, Miura S, Sakai T, Sasaguri M, Misumi Y, Arakawa K (1994) Taurine amplifies renal kallikrein and prevents salt-induced hypertension in Dahl rats. J Hypertens 12: 653–661

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacobsen JG, Smith LH Jr (1968) Biochemistry and physiology of taurine and taurine derivatives. Physiol Rev 48: 424–511

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson RJ (1994) The glomerular response to injury: progression or resolution? Kidney Int 45: 1769–1782

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones DP, Miller LA, Chesney RW (1990) Adaptive regulation of taurine transport in two continuous renal epithelial cell lines. Kidney Int 38: 219–226

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones DP, Chesney RW (1993) Polarized nature of taurine transport in LLC-PK1 and MDCK cells: further characterization of divergent transport models. Amino Acids 5: 329–339

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones DP, Miller LA, Chesney RW (1995) The adaptive roles of external taurine concentration and medium osmolality in the regulation of taurine transport in LLC-PK1 and MDCK cells. Pediatr Res 37: 227–232

    Google Scholar 

  • Jung BC, Laidlaw SA, Kopple JD (1991) Taurine levels in plasma and blood cells in patients undergoing routine maintenance hemodialysis. Am J Kidney Dis 18: 74–79

    Google Scholar 

  • Klahr S, Schreiner G, Ichikawa I (1988) The progression of renal disease. N Engl J Med 318: 1657–1666

    Google Scholar 

  • Kunisaki M, Bursell SE, Umeda F, Nawata H, King GL (1994) Normalization of diacylglycerol-protein kinase C activation by vitamin E in aorta of diabetic rats and cultured rat smooth muscle cells exposed to elevated glucose levels. Diabetes 43: 1372–1377

    Google Scholar 

  • Li JZ, Sharma R, Dileepan KN, Savin VJ (1994) Polymorphonuclear leukocytes increase glomerular albumin permeability via hypohalous acid. Kidney Int 46: 1025–1030

    Google Scholar 

  • Ma N, Aoki E, Semba R (1994) An immunohistochemical study of aspartate, glutamate and taurine in rat kidney. J Histochem Cytochem 42: 621–626

    Google Scholar 

  • Michalk DV, Essich HJ, Bohles HJ, Scharer K (1983) Taurine metabolism in experimental renal failure. Kidney Int 24 [Suppl]: S16-S21

    Google Scholar 

  • Nakamori K, Koyama I, Nakamura T, Nemoto M, Yoshida T, Umeda M, Inoue K (1993) Quantitative evaluation of the effectiveness of taurine in protecting the ocular surface against oxidant. Chem Pharm Bull 41: 335–338

    Google Scholar 

  • Nakanishi T, Uyama O, Sugita M (1991) Osmotically regulated taurine content in rat renal inner medulla. Am J Physiol 261: F957-F962

    Google Scholar 

  • Nankivell BJ, Tay YC, Boadle RA, Harris DCH (1994) Dietary protein alters tubular iron accumulation after partial nephrectomy. Kidney Int 45: 1006–1013

    Google Scholar 

  • Nara Y, Yamori Y, Lovenberg W (1978) Effect of dietary taurine on blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Biochem Pharmacol 27: 2689–2692

    Google Scholar 

  • Paller MS, Hoidal JR, Ferris TF (1984) Oxygen free radicals in ischemic acute renal failure in the rat. J Clin Invest 74: 1156–1164

    Google Scholar 

  • Pasantes-Morales H, Wright CE, Gaull GE (1984) Protective effect of taurine, zinc, and tocopherol on retinol-induced damage in human lymphoblastoid cells. J Nutr 114: 2256–2261

    Google Scholar 

  • Pasantes-Morales H, Wright CE, Gaull GE (1985) Taurine protection of lymphoblastoid cells from iron-ascorbate induced damage. Biochem Pharmacol 34: 2205–2207

    Google Scholar 

  • Perfumo F, Canepa A, Divino-Filho JC, Nilsson E, Carrea A, Verrina E, Gusmano R, Bergstrom J (1994) Muscle and plasma amino acids and nutritional status in kidneytransplanted children. Nephrol Dial Transplant 9: 1778–1785

    Google Scholar 

  • Schuller-Levis G, Quinn MR, Wright C, Park E (1994) Taurine protects against oxidantinduced lung injury: possible mechanism(s) of action. In: Huxtable R (ed) Taurine in health and disease. Plenum Press, New York, pp 31–39

    Google Scholar 

  • Stevens MJ, Lattimer SA, Kamijo M, Van Huysen C, Sima AAF, Greene DA (1993) Osmotically-induced nerve taurine depletion and the compatible osmolyte hypothesis in experimental diabetic neuropathy in the rat. Diabetologia 36: 608–614

    Google Scholar 

  • Storm-Mathisen J, Leknes AK, Bore AT, Vaaland JL, Edminson P, Haug FS, Ottersen OP (1983) First visualization of glutamate and GABA in neurones by immunocytochemistry. Nature: 517–520

  • Sturman JA (1993) Taurine in development. Physiol Rev 73: 119–147

    Google Scholar 

  • Tadolini B, Pintus G, Pinna GG, Bennardini F, Franconi F (1995) Effects of taurine and hypotaurine on lipid peroxidation. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 213: 820–826

    Google Scholar 

  • Thakur V, Walker PD, Shah SV (1988) Evidence suggesting a role for hydroxyl radical in puromycin aminonucleoside-induced proteinuria. Kidney Int 34: 494–499

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas EL, Grisham MB, Melton DF, Jefferson MM (1985) Evidence for a role of taurine in the in vitro oxidative toxicity of neutrophils toward erythrocytes. J Biol Chem 260: 3321–3329

    Google Scholar 

  • Trachtman H (1994) Vitamin E prevents glucose-induced lipid peroxidation and increased collagen production in cultured rat mesangial cells. Microvasc Res 47: 232–239

    Google Scholar 

  • Trachtman H, Del Pizzo R (1989) Taurine does not afford protection against progressive renal failure in the 5/6 nephrectomy model of chronic renal disease. Am J Kidney Dis 14: 438 (abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Trachtman H, Barbour R, Sturman JA, Finberg L (1988) Taurine is a cerebral osmoprotective molecule, “no longer idiogenic”, in chronic hypernatremic dehydration. Pediatr Res 23: 35–39

    Google Scholar 

  • Trachtman H, Del Pizzo R, Rao PS, Rujikarn N, Sturman JA (1989) Taurine lowers blood pressure in the spontaneously hypertensive rat by a catecholamine independent mechanism. Am J Hypertens 2: 909–912

    Google Scholar 

  • Trachtman H, Del Pizzo R, Sturman JA (1990) Taurine and osmoregulation III. Taurine deficiency protects against cerebral edema during acute hyponatremia. Pediatr Res 27: 85–88

    Google Scholar 

  • Trachtman H, Wilson D, Rao PS (1992a) The role of oxygen free radicals in the development of chronic renal failure. Life Sci 50: 1877–1883

    Google Scholar 

  • Trachtman H, Del Pizzo R, Futterweit S, Levine D, Rao PS, Valderrama E, Sturman JA (1992b) Taurine attenuates renal disease in chronic puromycin aminonucleoside nephropathy. Am J Physiol 262: F117-F123

    Google Scholar 

  • Trachtman H, Futterweit S, Bienkowski RS (1993a) Taurine prevents glucose-induced lipid peroxidation and increased collagen production in cultured rat mesangial cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 191: 759–765

    Google Scholar 

  • Trachtman H, Lu P, Sturman JA (1993b) Immunohistochemical localization of taurine in rat renal tissue: studies in experimental disease states. J Histochem Cytochem 41: 1209–1216

    Google Scholar 

  • Trachtman H, Futterweit S, Prenner J, Hanon S (1994) Antioxidants reverse the antiproliferative effect of high glucose and advanced glycosylation end products in cultured rat mesangial cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 199: 346–352

    Google Scholar 

  • Trachtman H, Futterweit S, Maesaka J, Ma C, Valderrama E, Fuchs A, Tarectecan AA, Rao PS, Sturman JA, Boles TH, Fu MX, Baynes J (1995) Taurine ameliorates chronic steptozocin-induced diabetic nephropathy in rats. Am J Physiol 269: F429-F438

    Google Scholar 

  • Ucida S, Nakanishi T, Kwon HM, Preston AS, Handler JS (1991) Taurine behaves as an osmolyte in Madin-Darby canine cells: protection by polarized, regulated transport of taurine. J Clin Invest 88: 656–662

    Google Scholar 

  • Venkatesan N, Rao PV, Arumugam V (1993) Inhibitory effect of taurine on puromycin aminonucleoside-induced hyperlipidemia in rats. J Clin Biochem Nutr 15: 203–210

    Google Scholar 

  • Venkatesan N, Rao PV, Arumugam V (1994) In vivo protective effect of taurine on puromycin aminonucleoside-induced nephrosis in rats. J Clin Biochem Nutr 16: 91–100

    Google Scholar 

  • Venkatesan N, Karthikeyan J, Arumugam V: Protection by taurine against adriamycininduced hyperlipidemia and proteinuria in rats. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med (under review)

  • Walker PD, SV Shah (1988) Evidence suggesting a role for hydroxyl radical in gentamicin-induced acute renal failure. J Clin Invest 81: 334–341

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang Q, Hollinger MA, Giri SN (1992a) Attenuation of amiodarone-induced lung fibrosis and phospholipidosis in hamsters by taurine and/or niacin treatment. J Pharmacol Exp Therap 262: 127–132

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang Q, Hyde DM, Giri SN (1992b) Abatement of bleomycin-induced increases in vascular permeability, inflammatory cell infiltration, and fibrotic lesions in hamster lungs by combined treatment with taurine and niacin. Lab Invest 67: 234–241

    Google Scholar 

  • Weinberg JM, Venkatachalam MA, Roeser NF, Davis JA, Varani J, Johnson KJ (1991a) Amino acid protection of cultured kidney tubule cells against calcium ionophoreinduced lethal cell injury. Lab Invest 65: 671–678

    Google Scholar 

  • Weinberg JM, Nissim I, Roeser NF, Davis JA, Schultz S, Nissim I (1991b) Relationships between intracellular amino acid levels and protection against injury to isolated proximal tubules. Am J Physiol 260: F410-F419

    Google Scholar 

  • Wingenfeld P, Strubind S, Gehrmann U, Minor T, Isselhard W, Michalk D (1994) Protecting effect of taurine against hypoxic cell damage in renal tubular cells cultured in different transplant presservation solutions. Adv Exp Med Biol 359: 159–169

    Google Scholar 

  • Zelikovic I, Stejskal-Lorenz E, Lohstroh P, Budreau A, Chesney RW (1989) Anion dependence of taurine transport by rat renal brushborder membrane vesicles. Am J Physiol 256: F646-F655

    Google Scholar 

  • Zelikovic I, Chesney RW, Friedman AL, Ahlfors CE (1990) Taurine depletion in very low birth weight infants receiving prolonged total parenteral nutrition: role of renal immaturity. J Pediatr 116: 301–306

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Division of Nephrology, Schneider Children's Hospital, Long Island Campus for the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, SCH 365, 269-01 76th Avenue, 11040, New Hyde Park, New York, USA

    H. Trachtman

  2. Department of Developmental Biochemistry, The Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, New York, USA

    J. A. Sturman

Authors
  1. H. Trachtman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. A. Sturman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Trachtman, H., Sturman, J.A. Taurine: A therapeutic agent in experimental kidney disease. Amino Acids 11, 1–13 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00805717

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00805717

Keywords

Search

Navigation