Taurine Chloramine Inhibits Leukocyte Migration by Suppressing Actin Polymerization and Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase.

Taurine, one of the most abundant amino acids, is ubiquitously distributed in mammalian tissues and is known to react with myeloperoxidase-derived hypochlorous acid (HOCl/OCl) to produce taurine chloramine (Tau-Cl), which prevents inflammation by both suppressing pro-inflammatory mediators and increasing antioxidant levels. The migration of inflammatory cells, including neutrophils and macrophages, to infection sites is critical to the development of inflammation. In the present study, we investigated whether Tau-Cl suppresses the migration of inflammatory cells. Tau-Cl inhibited thioglycollate-induced leukocyte migration to the peritoneal cavity, as well as both fMLP-induced neutrophil migration and LPS-stimulated macrophage migration in a transwell system. Tau-Cl also inhibited LPS-induced actin polymerization, adhesion, and ERK phosphorylation in macrophages. Together, these findings suggest that Tau-Cl inhibits the infiltration of inflammatory cells into infection sites by inhibiting ERK activation, thereby preventing actin polymerization, and thus, the excessive infiltration of inflammatory cells, which can cause chronic inflammation.