Taurine and vascular tone modulation

Abstract

Taurine, an ubiquitary amino acid in the organism, has important physiological functions like bile salt formation, neuronal excitability regulation, immunomodulation, electrolytes homeostasis preservation, osmoregulation, membrane stabilisation, apoptosis inhibition and cell protection. This review article is focusing on the complex vasoactive influence of the sulphur-amino acid and on the possibly involved mechanisms that may underline these effects. Acting on endothelial and smooth muscle cells in the vessels, it regulates blood pressure and delays atherogenesis process, having an increased therapeutic potential that needs to be further explored.