Taurine treatment decreases inflammation and oxidative stress in lungs of adult mice exposed to cigarette smoke

Abstract

Taurine is the major free amino acid found in mammalian cells and is known to be an antioxidant and membrane-stabilizing agent. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of taurine on oxidative stress and inflammatory response in the lungs of mice exposed to cigarette smoke. Fifty male C57BL/6 mice were divided into 5 groups: control group (CG), vehicle group (VG), taurine group (TG), cigarette smoke group (CSG), and cigarette smoke + taurine group (CSTG). For five consecutive days, CSG and CSTG were exposed to 4 cigarettes 3 times a day. Taurine administration was able to reduce total leukocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in CSTG compared to CSG. There was an increase in antioxidant superoxide dismutase and catalase activity in CSG compared to that in CG and TG, and a decrease in CSTG compared to CSG. There was an increase in the concentration of TNF and IL-17 in CSG and CSTG compared to CG and TG. There was an increase in the concentration of IL-22 in CSG compared to CG and TG, and a decrease in CSTG compared to CSG. The administration of taurine has been shown to reduce the inflammation and oxidative stress induced by short-term exposure to cigarette smoke.