Effects of taurine on metal cations, transthyretin and LRP-1 in a rat model of Alzheimer’s disease

Researches on diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease, the most common type of dementia, are still ongoing. Taurine is frequently used in Alzheimer's disease models due to its protective effects. Metal cation dyshomeostasis is an important etiological factor for Alzheimer's disease. Transthyretin protein is thought to act as a transporter for the Aβ protein that accumulates in the brain and is eliminated in the liver and kidneys via the LRP-1 receptor. However, the effect of taurine on this mechanisms is not fully known. 30 male rats, aged 28 ± 4 months, were divided into 5 groups (n = 6) as follows: control group, sham group, Aβ 1–42 group, taurine group and taurine+Aβ 1–42 group. Oral taurine pre-supplementation was given as 1000 mg/kg-body weight/day for 6 weeks to taurine and taurine+Aβ 1–42 groups. Plasma copper, heart transthyretin and Aβ 1–42, brain and kidney LRP-1 levels were found to be decreased in the Aβ 1–42 group. Brain transthyretin was higher in taurine+Aβ 1–42 group and brain Aβ 1–42 was higher in Aβ 1–42 and taurine+Aβ 1–42 groups. Taurine pre-supplementation maintained cardiac transthyretin levels, decreased cardiac Aβ 1–42 levels and increased brain and kidney LRP-1 levels. Taurine may have a potential to be used as a protective agent for aged people at high risk for Alzheimer's disease. [Display omitted] •Metal cation dyshomeostasis is involved in the pathogenesis of AD.•One of the factors that cause AD is inadequate amyloid clearance.•Transthyretin and LRP-1 are thought to be involved in the clearance of amyloid derivatives.•Taurine can exert its neuroprotective effects in AD by different mechanisms, such as increasing LRP-1 levels.