Protective effects of taurine against hepatic abnormality in NZB/W F1 mice fed a hypercholesterolemic diet

A hypercholesterolemic diet has been associated with the hepatic abnormalities and the pathological processes of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). To investigate the effects of taurine on the hepatic abnormality in SLE, NZB/W F1 mice were used as an animal model by receiving control, cholesterol, or cholesterol + taurine diets, respectively. Reductions (P < 0.05) of liver-to-body weight ratio, lipid deposit, mean arterial pressure, serum total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol (TAG), AST, ALT and hepatic CRP levels were detected in the cholesterol + taurine group as compared to those of the cholesterol group. In addition, stress-related molecules in livers, including HSP70, HSP90, MMP9 and iNOS, were also lower (P < 0.05) in the cholesterol + taurine group compared to the cholesterol group. These findings demonstrated the protective effects of taurine on the hepatic abnormality in NZB/W F1 mice fed a hypercholesterolemic diet and may suggest taurine as a dietary supplementation for SLE patients.