Taurine: A potent antioxidant and anti- inflammatory semi- beta essential amino acid and its neuroprotective role in the CNS

Abstract

Taurine is a beta semi essential amino acid which synthesis occurs in astrocytes located in the central nervous system required for optimal postnatal brain development. Taurine regulates the gene expression of neural stem and precursor cells and modulates inflammatory pathways in the central nervous system through its neuroprotective and cytoprotective properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and osmoregulatory functions. Taurine functions as a gliotransmitter through the release of astrocytes promoting intracellular effect by playing a role in calcium homeostatic pathway, reducing calcium overload, preventing excitotoxicity, mitochondrial stress and apoptosis. Taurine functions as a gliotransmitter through the release of astrocyte promoting extracellular effect in the neuron by binding to neuronal GABA_A and Glycine receptors with subsequent cellular hyperpolarization and attenuation of N – methyl- D- aspartic acid (NMDA) mediated glutamate excitotoxiciy. Due to its neuroprotective effect, further research is required to understand taurine neuroprotective function in glial cell, astrocyte and neural metabolism. The astrocyte role of taurine in neuroprotective function should be considered as a promising therapeutic target of several neuroinflammatory, neurodegenerative and psychiatric disease in the near future. This review aims to present current scientific information on the homeostatic and neuroprotective role of taurine in the central nervous system, its uses in alleviating central nervous system disorders and the relationship between taurine and astrocyte.