Effect of Taurine on Thymus Differentiation of Dex-Induced Immunosuppressive Mice

Taurine promotes B-cell activation by interaction with the VH /VL framework regions of B-cell receptor

Taurine (Tau) is a special sulphur-containing amino acid and has been widely used as a dietary supplement. Although Tau exists in lymphocytes in large quantities, the physiological significance of Tau to modulate human immunity is unknown. In the present study, we first found that Tau regulates the B-cell receptor (BCR)-mediated signal transduction and induces the B cells activation. The IgG production of mice after ovalbumin immunization was also increased by Tau administration. Moreover, the isothermal titration calorimetry and surface plasmon resonance analysis have shown that Tau specifically bound to the IgG2a-BCR. The Tau could bind to IgG F(ab')₂ regions via fluorescence spectroscopy analysis. In the molecular docking analysis, Tau bound to the framework regions (FRs) of variable region of the heavy chains (V_H ) and in the light chains (V_L ) of IgG2a-BCR. Our results suggested that Tau could improve the activation of B cells by interaction with the V_H /V_L FRs of BCR.

Taurine metabolism is modulated in Vibrio-infected Penaeus vannamei to shape shrimp antibacterial response and survival

BACKGROUND

Numerous microorganisms are found in aquaculture ponds, including several pathogenic bacteria. Infection of cultured animals by these pathogens results in diseases and metabolic dysregulation. However, changes in the metabolic profiles that occur at different infection stages in the same ponds and how these metabolic changes can be modulated by exogenous metabolites in Penaeus vannamei remain unknown.

RESULTS

Here, we collected gastrointestinal tract (GIT) samples from healthy, diseased, and moribund P. vannamei in the same aquaculture pond for histological, metabolic, and transcriptome profiling. We found that diseased and moribund shrimp with empty GITs and atrophied hepatopancreas were mainly infected with Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio harveyi. Although significant dysregulation of crucial metabolites and their enzymes were observed in diseased and moribund shrimps, diseased shrimp expressed high levels of taurine and taurine metabolism-related enzymes, while moribund shrimp expressed high levels of hypoxanthine and related metabolism enzymes. Moreover, a strong negative correlation was observed between taurine levels and the relative abundance of V. parahaemolyticus and V. harveyi. Besides, exogenous taurine enhanced shrimp survival against V. parahaemolyticus challenge by increasing the expression of key taurine metabolism enzymes, mainly, cysteine dioxygenase (CDO) and cysteine sulfinic acid decarboxylase (CSD).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study revealed that taurine metabolism could be modulated by exogenous supplementation to improve crustacean immune response against pathogenic microbes. Video Abstract.

Anti-Oxidative and Immuno-Protective Effect of Camel Milk on Radiation-Induced Intestinal Injury in C57BL/6 J Mice

PURPOSE

The main objective is to investigate the protective effect of camel milk (CM) on radiation-induced intestinal injury.

METHODS

The C57BL/6 J mice in 2 experiments were assigned into control group (Con), irradiation group (IR), and CM+irradiation group (CM+IR). After receiving the CM via gavage for 14 days, the mice in the first experiment were exposed to 6 Gy X-ray whole body irradiation, and survival rate was compared among the groups. Mice in the second experiment were exposed to 4 Gy irradiation and sacrificed at day 7. The small intestines were collected to examine the histopathological changes and to determine the anti-oxidative index and HMGB1/TLR4 inflammatory pathway. Fasting blood was used to measure serum pro-inflammatory factors.

RESULTS

Compared with the IR group, the survival time was prolonged, and survival rate was increased in the CM+IR group. CM increased levels of SOD and GSH and decreased MDA in the jejunum. Furthermore, intestinal protein expression of HMGB1/TLR4 pathway (TLR4, NF-κB, and HMGB1) was up-regulated by CM intervention. CM decreased the serum levels of TNF-α and IL-1β and increased IL-10 level.

CONCLUSIONS

CM extended the survival time and had a protective effect against radiation-induced jejunum injury by regulation of antioxidant capacity and HMGB1/TLR4/NF-κB/MyD88 inflammatory signaling pathway.

Potential Metabolic Biomarkers for Early Detection of Oral Lichen Planus, a Precancerous Lesion

Background: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a T-cell-mediated chronic inflammatory disorder and precancerous oral lesion with high incidence. The current diagnostic method of OLP is very limited and metabolomics may provide a new approach for quantitative evaluation.

Methods: The Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Quadrupole/Orbitrap High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS) was applied to analyze the change of metabolites in serum of patients with OLP. A total of 115 OLP patients and 124 healthy controls were assigned to either a training set (n = 160) or a test set (n = 79). The potential biomarkers and the change of serum metabolites were profiled and evaluated by multivariate analysis.

Results: Totally, 23 differential metabolites were identified in the training set between OLP group and healthy group. Three prominent metabolites in receiver operating characteristic (ROC) were selected as a panel to distinguish OLP or healthy individuals in the test set, and the diagnostic accuracy was 86.1%.

Conclusions: This study established a new method for the early detection of OLP by analyzing serum metabolomics using UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS, which will help in understanding the pathological processes of OLP and identifying precancerous lesions in oral cavity.

Role of taurine, its haloamines and its lncRNA TUG1 in both inflammation and cancer progression. On the road to therapeutics? (Review)

For one century, taurine is considered as an end product of sulfur metabolism. In this review, we discuss the beneficial effect of taurine, its haloamines and taurine upregulated gene 1 (TUG1) long non‑coding RNA (lncRNA) in both cancer and inflammation. We outline how taurine or its haloamines (N‑Bromotaurine or N‑Chlorotaurine) can induce robust and efficient responses against inflammatory diseases, providing insight into their molecular mechanisms. We also provide information about the use of taurine as a therapeutic approach to cancer. Taurine can be combined with other chemotherapeutic drugs, not only mediating durable responses in various malignancies, but also circumventing the limitations met from chemotherapeutic drugs, thus improving the therapeutic outcome. Interestingly, the lncRNA TUG1 is regarded as a promising therapeutic approach, which can overcome acquired resistance of cancer cells to selected strategies. In this regard, we can translate basic knowledge about taurine and its TUG1 lncRNA into potential therapeutic options directed against specific oncogenic signaling targets, thereby bridging the gap between bench and bedside.