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Taurine attenuates the development of hepatic steatosis through the inhibition of oxidative stress in a model of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in vivo and in vitro

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Abstract

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease. It is characterized by the accumulation of triglyceride within hepatocytes. Taurine is a sulfur-containing-β-amino acid that is widely distributed in mammalian tissues. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of taurine on the development of hepatic steatosis in a model of NAFLD in vivo and in vitro. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) supplemented with 2% (w/v) or 5% (w/v) taurine for 12 weeks. An in vitro study was performed in HepG2 cells loaded with fatty acids. Twelve weeks of supplementation with an HFD increased the hepatic lipid levels and oxidative stress as well as the body weight and liver weight. Taurine significantly suppressed these changes, which was accompanied by a decrease in the hepatic level of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS). In addition, taurine treatment suppressed the HFD-induced reduction of the enzyme activity of hepatic superoxide dismutase and catalase and the reduction of the hepatic level of reduced glutathione and ATP. In HepG2 cells, taurine suppressed the fatty acid-induced lipid accumulation, production of reactive oxygen species and TBARS level, and amelioration of the fatty acid-induced disruption of the mitochondrial membrane potential. These results showed that taurine was effective in alleviating hepatic steatosis by reducing oxidative stress. Taurine may, therefore, be of therapeutic value in reducing the risks associated with NAFLD.

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Abbreviations

ALT:

Alanine aminotransferase

AST:

Aspartate aminotransferase

CAT:

Catalase

GSH:

Reduced glutathione

HDL:

High-density lipoprotein

HFD:

High-fat diet

NAFLD:

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

PBS:

Phosphate-buffered saline

SOD:

Superoxide dismutase

TBARS:

Thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances

VLDL:

Very low-density lipoprotein

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Fukui Prefectural University, Eiheiji-cho, Fukui, 910-1195, Japan

    Shigeru Murakami, Ayuko Ono, Azusa Kawasaki & Takashi Ito

  2. Clinical Trial Coordinating Center, Kitasato University, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-8643, Japan

    Takaaki Takenaga

Authors
  1. Shigeru Murakami
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  2. Ayuko Ono
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  3. Azusa Kawasaki
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  4. Takaaki Takenaga
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  5. Takashi Ito
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Correspondence to Shigeru Murakami.

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The authors declare no conflicts of interest in association with the present study.

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All procedures performed in studies involving animals were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institution or practice at which the studies were conducted.

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Handling Editor: S. W. Schaffer.

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Murakami, S., Ono, A., Kawasaki, A. et al. Taurine attenuates the development of hepatic steatosis through the inhibition of oxidative stress in a model of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in vivo and in vitro. Amino Acids 50, 1279–1288 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-018-2605-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-018-2605-8

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