The Regulation of Taurine Transport through the Blood-Placental Barrier under Oxidative Stress

Abstract

In the present study, we examined the changes of uptake and efflux of taurine under various conditions inducing oxidative stress using rat conditionally immortalized syncytiotrophoblast cell line, TR-TBT cell, as blood-placental barrier in vitro model. In addition, we identified the characteristics of taurine transport in TR-TBT cells including general features, besides effect of calcium ion on taurine transport. Taurine uptake showed time, Na+ and Cl− dependency, and was decreased by PKC activator in TR-TBT cells. Also, calcium free condition decreased taurine uptake and evoked taurine efflux in the cells. Oxidative stress induced the change of taurine transport in TR-TBT cells, but the changes were different depending on the types of stimulation inducing oxidative stress. The taurine uptake was increased by TNF-α, LPS and DEM stimulation but decreased by H2O2 and NO stimulation. Also, the taurine efflux was regulated by TNF-α stimulation. In conclusion, the taurine transport through the blood-placental barrier was regulated in oxidative stress conditions, and these results demonstrated that oxidative stress affected the taurine supplies to fetus and taurine level of fetus.