"A significantly higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is reported in patients with systemic
lupus erythematosus (SLE) as compared with the general population and accounts for approximately
30% of deaths in SLE patients. However, the mechanism of and treatments for CVD in patients with
SLE are still unclear. To explore the effects of taurine on cardiac abnormality in SLE, NZB/W F1 mice
were used as the experimental model by receiving control, cholesterol, or cholesterol/taurine diets,
respectively. Improved cardiac histopathological changes were observed in left ventricle tissues from
the cholesterol/taurine group as compared to the control or cholesterol group. Significant reductions of
TUNEL-positive cells, Fas death receptor-related components, mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis,
cardiac fibrosis, and fibrotic signaling components were detected in the left ventricle tissues from the
cholesterol/taurine group as compared to the control or cholesterol group. Additionally, cardiac IGR1R
survival signaling components were significantly increased in the left ventricle tissues from the
cholesterol/taurine group as compared to the control or cholesterol group. These findings revealed
the protective effects of taurine against the cardiac abnormalities in NZB/W F1 mice and may suggest
the potential for clinical application of taurine in treatment of CVD in SLE."
