Taurine prevents tissue damage in various models of inflammation through a mechanism postulated to involve taurine monochloramine (Tau-Cl). Tau-Cl is formed through the action of a halide-dependent myeloperoxidase system associated with polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN), eosinophils, and basophils. Production of nitric oxide (NO), PGE2, and other proinflammatory mediators by activated macrophages is inhibited by Tau-Cl. Since glial cells may be activated to produce NO, PGE2 and other proinflammatory mediators, similar to macrophages, we examined the effects of Tau-Cl on the production of NO and PGE2 by rat C6 glioma cells. C6 cells were seeded to grow over 2-3 days to approximately 90% confluency before exposure to various concentrations of Tau-Cl in HBSS for 2 h (37 degreesC, 5% CO2). The HBSS was replaced, after washing the cells, with DMEM containing 4% fetal calf serum and activators (LPS, 10 microgram/ml; rat rIFN-gamma, 50 U/ml; and human rTNF-alpha, 50 ng/ml). Media content of NO2- and PGE2 was measured 48 h after activation and cell lysates were subjected to SDS-PAGE followed by Western blot analyses to determine the relative expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) proteins. Media accumulation of NO2- and PGE2 was inhibited by Tau-Cl in a concentration dependent manner and this was accompanied by decreased amounts of iNOS and COX-2 proteins in cell lysates. Additional experiments determined the effects of Tau-Cl on the kinetics of iNOS and COX-2 mRNA expression. Expression of iNOS mRNA was markedly inhibited in activated C6 cells that were previously exposed to Tau-Cl and this persisted for at least 24 h. In contrast, inhibition of COX-2 mRNA expression was only transiently reduced in Tau-Cl exposed cells during the first 4 h of activation and was relatively unimpaired thereafter (8-24 h). These results suggest that Tau-Cl inhibits the transcriptional expression of the iNOS gene but inhibits expression of COX-2 protein by post-transcriptional mechanisms.