Neuroprotection of taurine through inhibition of 12/15 lipoxygenase pathway in cerebral ischemia of rats

Abstract

Background: Cerebral ischemia exhibits a multiplicity of pathophysiological mechanisms. Taurine (Tau), an endogenous substance, possesses a number of cytoprotective properties. The aim of the present study was to examine the neuroprotective effect of Tau, through affecting 12/15 lipoxygenase (12/15-LOX) signal pathway in an acute permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model of rats.

Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (n = 10), namely the sham-operated group, MCAO group and Tau group. Tau was intraperitoneally administrated immediately after cerebral ischemia. At 24 h after MCAO, neurological function score, brain water content and infarct volume were assessed. The expression of 12/15-lipoxygenase (12/15-LOX), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK), and cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) was measured by Western blot. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to evaluate the inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in serum.

Results: Compared with MCAO group, taurine significantly improved neurological function and significantly reduced brain water content (p < 0.05) and infarct volume (p < 0.05). Consistent with these indices, the overexpressions of 12/15-LOX, p38 MAPK, cPLA2, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were significantly decreased in Tau group (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Taurine protected the brain from damage caused by MCAO; this effect may be through down-regulation of 12/15-LOX, p38 MAPK, and cPLA2.

Keywords:

• Taurine
• neuroprotection
• 12/15 lipoxygenase
• mitogen-activated protein kinase
• phospholipase A2