Taurine transport and transporter localization in peripheral blood lymphocytes of controls and major depression patients.

Taurine concentration is increased in peripheral blood lymphocytes in a group of depressed subjects. After this observation [3H]taurine transport was measured in lymphocytes of 10 major depression patients (19-60 years old), diagnosed by the criteria of the American Psychiatric Association, with moderate severity as determined by Hamilton Scale for Depression (32 +/- 6). The control group comprised 10 subjects (20-56 years old). Taurine transporter and CD4+ (helpers) and CD8+ (cytolytic) T lymphocytes were immunolabeled. No significant differences were observed in immunochemical analyses. CD4+ cells were 53% and CD8+ cells 28% of the total lymphocytes in both controls and patients. Two taurine transport components, high and low affinity, were demonstrated in both groups. Taurine transporter was present in 16% of CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes in controls and patients. This preliminary report exhibits the presence of taurine transporter in peripheral blood lymphocytes but no differences were observed between controls and depressed subjects.