Taurine ameliorated hypercholesterolemia in rats fed a high cholesterol diet by directly enhancing the hepatic expression of BHMT and OATP2, which modulated the SHP and induced CYP7A1 and CYP8B1, thereby promoting cholesterol catabolism and lowering blood cholesterol levels. The gene discussed is CYP7A1; the disease is familial hypercholesterolemia.