Objective: Taurine is an amino acid able to react with hypochlorous acid, produced endogenously by neutrophils, resulting in the more stable and less toxic taurine chloramine (Tau-Cl). Since Tau-Cl has been shown to down-regulate the production of proinflammatory mediators and to exert anti-bacterial properties, we investigated the efficacy of Tau-Cl treatment for infectious arthritis.
Methods: The murine model of hematogenous septic arthritis involved intravenous injection of a single dose of Staphylococcus aureus. Tau-Cl was administered by daily intraperitoneal injections. In another experiment S. aureus and Tau-Cl were injected intra-articularly. Evaluation of arthritis was performed clinically and histologically. The effect of Tau-Cl on bacterial growth in vitro was also assessed.
Results: Growth of staphylococci, including the methicillin-resistant strain 67-0, was inhibited by Tau-Cl. Mice injected with bacteria and Tau-Cl locally in the joint exhibited significantly fewer arthritic lesions. In contrast, there were no obvious differences between Tau-Cl-treated animals and controls with regard to clinical or histological signs of arthritis when bacteria and Tau-Cl were administered systemically.
Conclusion: Our results show that Tau-Cl exerts an inhibitory effect on the development of bone and cartilage damage in the infected joint when administered intra-articularly.