Title: The Therapeutic Role of Taurine in Ischaemia-Reperfusion Injury
Volume: 10
Issue: 19
Author(s): R. Kingston, C. J. Kelly and P. Murray
Affiliation:
Keywords:
antioxidants, ischaemia-reperfusion injury, lipid peroxidation, oxidative stress, reperfusion, taurine
Abstract: As a non-toxic endogenous antioxidant, the semi-essential amino acid taurine is a potential attenuator of oxidative damage such as that produced by ischaemia-reperfusion injury. Ischaemia-reperfusion injury is a well established if paradoxical phenomenon whereby ischaemic tissue, doomed to necrosis if it is not reperfused, is actually further damaged by oxidative attack when perfusion is restored. This paper is a review of the literature concerning therapeutic strategies in ischaemia-reperfusion injury, including nonpharmacological and pharmacological interventions. There is consistent experimental evidence of an important role of taurine in ischaemia-reperfusion injury, with a clinical role emerging in human trials of taurine administered prior to coronary artery bypass grafting and heart valve surgery.
