Taurine corrects lupus CD4+ T cell imbalance through inhibition of mTORC1 signaling

Abstract Objective This study was designed to explore the metabolism features in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to investigate the role and regulatory mechanism of taurine in the control of CD4+ T cells and the progression of SLE. Methods Metabolomic profiles of sera from SLE patients and he...

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Main Authors: Saisai Huang, Yiyuan Cui, Yaqi Zhang, Hanyin Deng, Shanshan Liu, Xuebing Feng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:Nutrition & Metabolism
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12986-025-00936-x
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author Saisai Huang
Yiyuan Cui
Yaqi Zhang
Hanyin Deng
Shanshan Liu
Xuebing Feng
author_facet Saisai Huang
Yiyuan Cui
Yaqi Zhang
Hanyin Deng
Shanshan Liu
Xuebing Feng
author_sort Saisai Huang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Objective This study was designed to explore the metabolism features in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to investigate the role and regulatory mechanism of taurine in the control of CD4+ T cells and the progression of SLE. Methods Metabolomic profiles of sera from SLE patients and healthy controls (HCs) were analyzed by mass spectrometry. The therapeutic effects of taurine in vivo were observed in resiquimod (R848) induced mice, and the effects of taurine on various functions of CD4+ T cells were examined by flow cytometry. The effect of mTORC1 agonist MHY1485 on the regulatory capacity of taurine was examined in vitro. Results Both untargeted metabolomics assays and independent sample validation showed that serum levels of taurine were reduced in SLE patients compared to HCs (P <0.0001), which was inversely correlated with disease activity scores (P <0.05). Taurine supplementation relieved the progression of lupus in R848 induced mice, characterized by a decrease in anti-dsDNA (P <0.01) and proteinuria (P <0.05) and a reduction in the severity of nephritis (P <0.05). And, taurine supplementation improved the differentiation of cell subsets such as Th17 (P <0.001) and Treg cells (P <0.001) in these mice. In vitro, taurine suppressed reactive oxygen species production (P <0.001), proliferation (P <0.0001) and senescence (P <0.0001) of mouse spleen cells. The level of pS6 (P <0.0001) but not AKT in CD4+ T was significantly decreased after taurine treatment, while mTORC1 agonists partially blocked the effect of taurine on CD4+ T cells. Conclusion Taurine may play a therapeutic role by ameliorating CD4+ T cell abnormalities through inhibition of mTORC1 signaling in SLE.
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spelling doaj-art-1e07af4f369a40fd910a7e06ab7320cf2025-08-20T03:53:57ZengBMCNutrition & Metabolism1743-70752025-05-0122111110.1186/s12986-025-00936-xTaurine corrects lupus CD4+ T cell imbalance through inhibition of mTORC1 signalingSaisai Huang0Yiyuan Cui1Yaqi Zhang2Hanyin Deng3Shanshan Liu4Xuebing Feng5Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing UniversityLuoyang Orthopedic Hospital of Henan Province, Orthopedic Hospital of Henan ProvinceDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese MedicineDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese MedicineDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing UniversityDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing UniversityAbstract Objective This study was designed to explore the metabolism features in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to investigate the role and regulatory mechanism of taurine in the control of CD4+ T cells and the progression of SLE. Methods Metabolomic profiles of sera from SLE patients and healthy controls (HCs) were analyzed by mass spectrometry. The therapeutic effects of taurine in vivo were observed in resiquimod (R848) induced mice, and the effects of taurine on various functions of CD4+ T cells were examined by flow cytometry. The effect of mTORC1 agonist MHY1485 on the regulatory capacity of taurine was examined in vitro. Results Both untargeted metabolomics assays and independent sample validation showed that serum levels of taurine were reduced in SLE patients compared to HCs (P <0.0001), which was inversely correlated with disease activity scores (P <0.05). Taurine supplementation relieved the progression of lupus in R848 induced mice, characterized by a decrease in anti-dsDNA (P <0.01) and proteinuria (P <0.05) and a reduction in the severity of nephritis (P <0.05). And, taurine supplementation improved the differentiation of cell subsets such as Th17 (P <0.001) and Treg cells (P <0.001) in these mice. In vitro, taurine suppressed reactive oxygen species production (P <0.001), proliferation (P <0.0001) and senescence (P <0.0001) of mouse spleen cells. The level of pS6 (P <0.0001) but not AKT in CD4+ T was significantly decreased after taurine treatment, while mTORC1 agonists partially blocked the effect of taurine on CD4+ T cells. Conclusion Taurine may play a therapeutic role by ameliorating CD4+ T cell abnormalities through inhibition of mTORC1 signaling in SLE.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12986-025-00936-xTaurineMetabolismCD4+ T cellmTORSystemic lupus erythematosus
spellingShingle Saisai Huang
Yiyuan Cui
Yaqi Zhang
Hanyin Deng
Shanshan Liu
Xuebing Feng
Taurine corrects lupus CD4+ T cell imbalance through inhibition of mTORC1 signaling
Nutrition & Metabolism
Taurine
Metabolism
CD4+ T cell
mTOR
Systemic lupus erythematosus
title Taurine corrects lupus CD4+ T cell imbalance through inhibition of mTORC1 signaling
title_full Taurine corrects lupus CD4+ T cell imbalance through inhibition of mTORC1 signaling
title_fullStr Taurine corrects lupus CD4+ T cell imbalance through inhibition of mTORC1 signaling
title_full_unstemmed Taurine corrects lupus CD4+ T cell imbalance through inhibition of mTORC1 signaling
title_short Taurine corrects lupus CD4+ T cell imbalance through inhibition of mTORC1 signaling
title_sort taurine corrects lupus cd4 t cell imbalance through inhibition of mtorc1 signaling
topic Taurine
Metabolism
CD4+ T cell
mTOR
Systemic lupus erythematosus
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12986-025-00936-x
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