Taurine chloramine inhibits inducible nitric oxide synthase and TNF-alpha gene expression in activated alveolar macrophages: decreased NF-kappaB activation and IkappaB kinase activity.

Taurine prevents tissue damage in a variety of models that involve inflammation, including oxidant-induced lung damage. The mechanism of protection is uncertain, but is postulated to involve the actions of taurine chloramine (Tau-Cl) derived via halide-dependent myeloperoxidase associated with neutrophils. Understanding the influence of Tau-Cl on the production of inflammatory mediators by alveolar macrophages provides an opportunity for determining the mechanism of Tau-Cl action. The effects of Tau-Cl were evaluated on the production of NO and TNF-alpha in NR8383, a cloned cell line derived from rat alveolar macrophages (RAM), and in primary cultures of RAM. Production of NO and TNF-alpha, and expression of inducible NO synthase was inhibited by Tau-Cl in activated NR8383 cells as well as in RAM. Temporal (2, 4, 8, 24 h) expression of inducible NO synthase and TNF-alpha mRNAs was reduced by Tau-Cl in NR8383 cells. Tau-Cl depressed NF-kappaB migration into the nucleus of activated NR8383 cells and caused a more sustained presence of IkappaB in the cytoplasm. Stabilization of cytoplasmic IkappaB-alpha in Tau-Cl-treated cells resulted from decreased phosphorylation of IkappaB-alpha serine-32 and a lower activity of IkappaB kinase (IKK). Additional experiments demonstrated that Tau-Cl does not directly inhibit IKK activity. These results suggest that Tau-Cl exerts its effects at some level upstream of IKK in the signaling pathway and inhibits production of inflammatory mediators through a mechanism that, at least in part, involves inhibition of NF-kappaB activation.