ISSN:
1438-2199
Keywords:
Keywords: Amino acids – Taurine – Transporter – Osmoregulation – Small intestine – Caco-2
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Summary. Taurine transport in human intestinal epithelial Caco-2 cells was down-regulated by culturing the cells in taurine-containing media and was up-regulated in a taurine-free medium. This adaptive regulation was associated with changes in both the Vmax and Km values of taurine transport. A change in the mRNA level of the taurine transporter (TAUT) in this regulation was also observed. The presence of such a regulatory mechanism for maintaining the intracellular taurine content at a certain level suggests that taurine plays an important role in the intestinal cell functions. The intracellular taurine content was increased when Caco-2 cells were exposed to a hypertonic stress. TAUT was up-regulated via the increased expression of TAUT mRNA in the hypertonic cells, suggesting that taurine serves as an osmolyte and protects the cells from osmotic stress. Similar up-regulation of TAUT was observed in the small intestine of water-deprived rats.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s007260070010
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