Taurine is considered the most abundant free amino acid present in the brain, with multiple functions including antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects, gene transcription regulation and maintenance of cellular energy processes, among others. Despite previous research regarding taurine’s effect in different tissues, its role in the nervous system, particularly the functional relationship with astrocytes, remains to be further elucidated. Understanding taurine’s effect in astrocytes can contribute to a better insight of its physiological effects, which could potentially be used to ameliorate the course of several nervous system pathologies.

We conducted a literature review concerning the relationship between taurine and astrocytes and its neuroprotective effects in the nervous system. We searched in different databases using search criteria such as “taurine AND neuroprotection“, “taurine AND glia“, “taurine AND brain“, “taurine AND astrocyte“, among others. There was no chosen range for year of publication. 

There is a metabolic coupling between astrocytes and neurons in which astrocytes provide neurons with hypotaurine as a substrate for taurine production. Taurinergic gliotransmission can enhance post-synaptic neuronal inhibition mediated by GABA-AR and GlyR, thus protecting the brain towards glutamate-induced excitotoxicity. Furthermore, taurine prevents mitochondrial stress, and activation of apoptotic pathways by inhibiting calcium influx from VGCC.