Taurine, taurine analogues, and taurine functions: overview

In view of the high (mM) concentrations of taurine found in most mammalian tissues, it is not surprising that it has a multiplicity of functions. Indeed, it may be an oversimplification to search for a single action that might account for its behaviour in any one system. It is believed that taurine has an enantiostatic role, preserving constant, or almost constant, tissue function in response to external perturbations (see Huxtable, 1992, 1999; Khan et al., 2000). That would account for its apparent cytoprotective actions in a number of systems, although the mechanisms involved may differ, depending on the nature and severity of the toxic perturbation. Indeed, a wide diversity of functions has been ascribed to taurine, which may contribute to its beneficial actions. These include modulation of intracellular calcium homeostasis, membrane stabilisation, osmoregulation, reactive-radical scavenging, oxidative stress, neuroprotection and neurotransmission