Beneficial Effect of Taurine Treatment Against Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity in Mice

Though the administration of taurine is clinically efficacious against heart failure, the mechanism underlying its cardioprotection remains to be established. To provide information on the mechanism, we examined the effects of taurine on doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiotoxicity, with an emphasis on ROS generation and cardiac gene inhibition. Oral administration of taurine (3% w/v in tap water) dramatically reduced the mortality rate in both the acute or sub-acute toxic models of DOX toxicity. It was shown that taurine prevented DOX-induced oxidative stress as determined from cardiac glutathione content. Interestingly, Northern blot analysis revealed that DOX altered cardiac gene expression, including that of α-myosin heavy chain, ventricular myosin light chain-2 isoform and brain natriuretic peptide, an effect partially ameliorated by taurine treatment. In conclusion, taurine suppresses ROS generation and regulates gene expression in the DOX treated heart.