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Taurine and Skeletal Muscle Disorders

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Abstract

Taurine is abundantly present in skeletal muscle. We give evidence that this amino acid exerts both short-term and long-term actions in the control of ion channel function and calcium homeostasis in striated fibers. Short-term actions can be estimated as the ability of this amino acid to acutely modulate both ion channel gating and the function of the structures involved in calcium handling. Long-term effects can be disclosed in situations of tissue taurine depletion and are likely related to the ability of the intracellular taurine to control transducing pathways as well as homeostatic and osmotic equilibrium in the tissue. The two activities are strictly linked because the intracellular level of taurine modulates the sensitivity of skeletal muscle to the exogenous application of taurine. Myopathies in which ion channels are directly or indirectly involved, as well as inherited or acquired pathologies characterized by metabolic alterations and change in calcium homeostasis, are often correlated with change in muscle taurine concentration and consequently with an enhanced therapeutic activity of this amino acid. We discuss both in vivo and in vitro evidence that taurine, through its ability to control sarcolemmal excitability and muscle contractility, can prove beneficial effects in many muscle dysfunctions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unit of Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacobiology, University of Bari, Italy

    Diana Conte Camerino, Domenico Tricarico, Sabata Pierno, Jean-François Desaphy, Antonella Liantonio, Rosa Burdi, Bodvael Fraysse & Annamaria De Luca

  2. Institute of Biophysics, CNR, Genova, Italy

    Michael Pusch

  3. Department of Human Anatomy and Histology, University of Bari, Italy

    Claudia Camerino

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  1. Diana Conte Camerino
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  2. Domenico Tricarico
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  3. Sabata Pierno
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  10. Annamaria De Luca
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Correspondence to Diana Conte Camerino.

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Camerino, D.C., Tricarico, D., Pierno, S. et al. Taurine and Skeletal Muscle Disorders. Neurochem Res 29, 135–142 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:NERE.0000010442.89826.9c

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