2026-11-092026-11-09https://scholars.csmu.edu.tw/handle/123456789/38642Taurine, 2-aminoethanesulfonic acid is one of the most abundant free amino acids in mammalian tissues and also a legal food additive in Taiwan. Its bio-physiological functions include antioxidation, hypocholesterolemia, osmoregulation, and membrane stabilization. Our previous study demonstrated taurine supplementation decreases serum cholesterol levels of hamsters fed a high fat/cholesterol diet because of increases of fecal cholesterol outputs. The principle investigator will apply animal models and spend three years investigating if taurine can 1) ameliorate a liver damage induced by a high fat/cholesterol diet (NAFL); 2) decrease a liver damage induced by an alcohol consumption (AFL); 3) protect liver from acetaminophen-induced hepatoxicity. In this project, major analyses will include 1) serum lipids, i.e. triglyceride, cholesterol, and HDL-C concentrations, as well as the ratio of HDL-C/LDL-C; 2) lipid and cholesterol levels in the liver; 3) liver damage indexes (GPT and GOT); 4) activities of lipogenic enzymes, such as glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), malic enzyme (ME), and fatty acid synthase (FAS); 5) activities of alcohol metabolism enzymes, such as alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH); 6) malondialdehyde (MDA) levels of hepatic tissues; 7) glutathione (GSH) contents, as well as activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dimutase (SOD) in the liver; 8) mRNA analyses for 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMG-CoA reductase), cholesterol 7-α hydroxylase(CYP7A1), TNF-α, matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9 (MMP-2/MMP-9) in the liver; 9) activities of TNF-α, MMP-2/MMP-9, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMPS) in the liver; 10) % DNA fragments in hepatic cells; 11) histological assessment of livers. Commercially, taurine is often regarded as a hepatic-protection and detoxification agent, i.e. functional beverages (Red Bull or other domestic products). The principle investigator hopes that the protective effects of taurine on three conditions of hepatic injuries can be clearly investigated via this three-year study. Meanwhile, this vital report may also offer consumers knowledge to keep their health.胺基乙磺酸又稱為牛磺酸(Taurine, Tau)，是一種游離胺基酸，為食品添加劑中第 八類營養添加劑。在生理上的功能：清除脂質過氧化物、降低膽固醇、調節細胞滲透壓 及維持膜安定等。Tau 在生物體內可做為抗氧化劑，降低體內細胞脂肪過氧化作用進而 穩定與保護生物膜。計畫申請人曾以倉鼠為動物模式，發現倉鼠在高油脂/膽固醇飼料 餵食下添加Tau 導致膽固醇排泄增加，進而顯著地降低血脂。 計畫申請人以動物模式、預計三年的時間，針對Tau 於高油脂/膽固醇飲食下造 成的非酒精性脂肪肝、酒精飲用下造成的酒精性脂肪肝、以及乙醯氨基酚 (Acetaminophen)引起的急性與慢性藥物性肝損傷保護作用，進行一系列的探討。主要分 析的項目：血脂、肝臟中脂肪與膽固醇濃度、GPT/GOT、肝細胞內脂質生合成酵素 (G6PDH、ME、FAS)與酒精代謝酵素(ADH、ALDH)的活性、丙二醛(MDA)、肝臟抗氧 化功能成份與酵素(GSH、GSH-Px、CAT、SOD)、肝臟細胞中HMG-CoA reductase、 Cholesterol 7-α hydroxylase之mRNA 表現量、肝臟細胞中TNF-α的含量與mRNA 表現 量、血清與肝臟細胞中間質金屬結合蛋白酶(matrix metalloproteinase, MMP-2/MMP-9)的 活性與mRNA 表現量、肝臟細胞金屬結合蛋白酶組織抑制物(TIMPS)的活性、肝臟細胞 DNA 破損程度、最後再以肝臟組織病理切片判斷肝臟受損情形。 計畫申請人預期藉由此一動物模式探討下，探討Tau 對這三種肝臟受損情形下的 保護作用，並期待這一科學性的研究能使國人瞭解肝臟健康的重要性。牛磺酸非酒精性脂肪肝酒精性脂肪肝藥物性肝損傷肝臟細胞破損指標脂質生合成酵素酒精代謝酵素丙二醛抗氧化功能細胞激素間質金屬結合蛋白?taurinenon-alcohol-induced fatty liveralcohol-induced fatty liveracetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicityGPTGOTlipogenic enzymesalcohol metabolism enzymesMDAantioxidantTNF-αMMPSTIMPSProject