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7335903 
Journal Article 
Taurine prevents high-fat diet-induced-hepatic steatosis in rats by direct inhibition of hepatic sterol regulatory element-binding proteins and activation of AMPK 
Morsy, MD; Aboonq, MS; Alsleem, MA; Abusham, AA 
2021 
Yes 
Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology
ISSN: 0305-1870
EISSN: 1440-1681 
Blackwell Publishing 
48 
1 
72-85 
English 
This study investigated if the protective effect of taurine against high fat diet-induced hepatic steatosis involves modulating the hepatic activity of 5' AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and levels/activity of the sterol regulatory element-binding proteins-1/2 (SREBP1/2). Rats were divided into four groups (n = 12/group) as (a) STD, fed standard diet (3.85 kcal/g); (b) STD + taurine (500 mg/kg); (c) HFD, fed HFD (4.73 kcal/g); and (d) HFD + taurine. All treatments were conducted for 12 weeks. Independent of food intake or modulating glucose or insulin levels, taurine administration to STD and HFD-fed rats significantly lowered weekly weight gain and the accumulation of the retroperitoneal, visceral and subcutaneous fats. In both groups, taurine also reduced serum and hepatic levels of triglycerides and cholesterol and reduced hepatic mRNA and protein levels of fatty acid synthase (FAS), acetyl CoA carboxylase-1 (ACC-1), HMG-CoA-reductase and HMG-CoA synthetase. In control rats only, taurine reduced hepatic levels of mature forms of sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBP)-1/2. In HFD-fed rats, taurine reduced SREBP-1/2 precursor and mature forms in the livers of HFD-fed rats. Besides, taurine significantly increased levels of glutathione (GSH), the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), and the activity of AMPK and its downstream β-oxidation genes including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPAR-α) and carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT-1) in the livers of both the control and HFD-fed rats. In conclusion, taurine protects against HFD-induced hepatic steatosis stimulating antioxidant levels, and concomitant stimulating hepatic β-oxidation and suppressing lipid synthesis, mediated by activation of AMPK and suppression of SREBP-1. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd 
AMPK; hepatic steatosis; HFD; rats; SREBPs; taurine; 5' amp activated protein kinase; acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase; carnitine palmitoyltransferase; fatty acid synthase; glucose; glutathione; hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase; hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase kinase; insulin; messenger RNA; peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha; sterol regulatory element binding protein; sterol regulatory element binding protein 1; sterol regulatory element binding protein 2; superoxide dismutase; taurine; unclassified drug; adult; animal experiment; animal model; animal tissue; antioxidant activity; Article; body weight; body weight gain; controlled study; food intake; glucose level; high-fat diet-induced fatty liver; histopathology; insulin level; insulin tolerance test; intra-abdominal fat; lipid storage; lipogenesis; liver histology; liver protection; liver weight; male; nonhuman; oral glucose tolerance test; oxidative stress; rat; real time polymerase chain reaction; retroperitoneal fat; subcutaneous fat; treatment duration