INFLAMMATION, vol.37, no.5, pp.1439-1443, 2014 (SCI-Expanded)
The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of taurine on the relationship between nitric oxide (NO), asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and homocysteine (Hcy) in endotoxin-induced human umblical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) cultures. For this reason, four groups were formed (n = 12). Control group consists of HUVEC cultures without any treatment. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and LPS + taurine groups were treated with 10 mu g/mL endotoxin, 5 mu g/mL taurine and endotoxin + taurine (same doses), respectively. Nitrite/nitrate (NOx), ADMA and Hcy levels were measured. There was a significant increase of NOx, ADMA and Hcy in endotoxemia (p < 0.05). Taurine treatment elevated NOx levels significantly (p < 0.01) in taurine and LPS + taurine group compared to control group, while it reduced NOx levels compared to LPS group. In contrast, taurine decreased ADMA levels to the control level both in taurine and taurine + LPS group compared to LPS. Hcy levels increased significantly compared to taurine group (p < 0.05) and did not change compared to LPS group. Taurine was effective on ADMA-NO relationship whereas no beneficial effect was observed in Hcy levels (p < 0.05).