GABA_A receptors as plausible molecular targets and mediators for taurine and homotaurine actions.

ABSTRACT: Dementia and autoimmune diseases are prevalent conditions with limited treatment options. Taurine and homotaurine (HT) are naturally occurring sulfonate amino acids, with taurine being highly abundant in animal tissues, but declining with age in the blood. HT is a blood-brain barrier permeable drug under investigation for Alzheimer's disease. HT also has beneficial effects in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis likely through an anti-inflammatory mechanism mediated by GABA_A receptor (GABA_AR) agonism in immune cells. While both taurine and HT are structural GABA analogs and thought to be GABA mimetics at GABA_ARs, there is uncertainty concerning their potency as GABA mimetics on native GABA_ARs. We show that HT is a very potent GABA mimetic, as it e

SUBMITTER: Meera P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10752957 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature