Abstract
Mammals can obtain taurine from food and synthesize it from sulfur-containing amino acids. Mammalian fetuses and infants have little ability to synthesize taurine. Therefore, they are dependent on taurine given from mothers either via the placenta or via breast milk. Many lines of evidence demonstrate that maternally derived taurine is essential for offspring development, shaping various traits in adults. Various environmental factors, including maternal obesity, preeclampsia, and undernutrition, can affect the efficacy of taurine transfer via either the placenta or breast milk. Thus, maternally derived taurine during the perinatal period can influence the offspring’s development and even determine health and disease later in life. In this review, I will discuss the biological function of taurine during development and the regulatory mechanisms of taurine transport from mother to offspring. I also refer to the possible environmental factors affecting taurine functions in mother-offspring bonding during perinatal periods. The possible functions of taurine as a determinant of gut microbiota and in the context of the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) hypothesis will also be discussed.
Highlights
A significant development in the evolution of mammals is placentation, intrauterine development of the fetus, and extensive care after birth that improves infant survival to a reproductive age [1]
Taurine transporter activity was suppressed by exposure to taurine in JAR choriocarcinoma cells by both transcriptional and posttranscriptional mechanisms [20]
Mochizuki et al showed that TNF-α markedly enhanced taurine transporter (TauT) activity in human intestinal Caco-2 cells. They proposed that the enhanced transport of taurine into cells underlies the cellular response against intestinal inflammation [32]. They further showed that nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) was involved in the signaling mechanism for the upregulation of taurine uptake and TauT mRNA expression induced by TNF-α [33]
Summary
A significant development in the evolution of mammals is placentation, intrauterine development of the fetus, and extensive care after birth that improves infant survival to a reproductive age [1]. Offspring development can be affected by early mother–offspring relationships [3]. Adults synthesize taurine in the liver from methionine/cystine, fetuses and infants have limited ability to synthesize taurine because they have limited levels of γ-cystathionase and cysteine sulfinic acid (CSAD) in livers and brains (Figure 1) [8]. Fetuses and infants depend on the taurine supplied by mothers via the placenta or breast milk [5,9]. Taurine is a principal constituent of the amino acid pool in the milk in many species, including humans, chimpanzees, baboons, rhesus monkeys, Java species, including humans, chimpanzees, rhesushighest monkeys, Java monkeys, sheep, monkeys, sheep, and rats [10,11]. Human TauT was cloned from the human placenta using a similar similar approach [19].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
