Incomplete clearance of apoptotic cells and reactive oxygen species (ROS) release are known to trigger inflammasome activation causing severe inflammation in acute lung injury and various metabolic and autoimmune diseases. Moreover, it has been reported that apoptotic cell clearance and ROS-mediated apoptosis critically depend on mitochondrial uncoupling protein-2 (UCP2). However, the relations...

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS In uncoupling protein-2 (UCP2) knockout (KO) mice, protection of beta cells from fatty acid exposure is dependent upon transcriptional events mediated by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPARalpha). METHODS PPARalpha expression was reduced in isolated islets from UCP2KO and wild-type (WT) mice with siRNA for PPARalpha (siPPARalpha) overnight. Some islets were ...

Mitochondrial uncoupling protein-2 and -3 (UCP2 and UCP3) may be involved in the modulation of resting metabolic rate and energy balance. To investigate their variability, the influence of this on the variability of energy expenditure, and potential regulatory factors of the expression of the corresponding genes, we measured their messenger ribonucleic acids (mRNAs) in muscle and white adipose ...

This study has identified the expression of uncoupling proteins in a marsupial using molecular techniques. The Tasmanian bettong, Bettongia gaimardi, increases non-shivering thermogenesis (NST) in response to cold exposure and norepinephrine, although previous studies have been unable to demonstrate the presence of brown adipose tissue or uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1). This study used molecular t...

Recent characterization of the ability of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) to reduce ATP production and inhibit insulin secretion by pancreatic beta-cells has placed this mitochondrial protein as a candidate target for therapeutics in diabetes mellitus. In the present study we evaluate the effects of short-term treatment of two animal models of type 2 diabetes mellitus with an antisense oligonucleot...

OBJECTIVE The levels of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) mRNA and determinants of respiration (ATP synthesis, proton leak and non-mitochondrial respiration) were evaluated in Kupffer cells isolated from the livers of normal euthyroid, acute hyperthyroid and chronic hyperthyroid rats. METHODS After liver perfusion, Kupffer cells were purified by density-gradient centrifugation followed by counterfl...

UCP2 (the lowest Km values: 20 and 29 microm, respectively) for omega-6 polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs), all-cis-8,11,14-eicosatrienoic and all-cis-6,9,12-octadecatrienoic acids, which are also the most potent agonists of the nuclear PPARbeta receptor in the activation of UCP2 transcription. omega-3 PUFA, cis-5,8,11,14,17-eicosapentaenoic acid had lower affinity (Km, 50 microm), although as an omeg...

Human UCP2 and UCP3, expressed in yeast, were studied to establish their high affinity regulatory ligands. UCPn were reconstituted into liposomes and assayed for fatty acid (FA)-induced H efflux. All natural long chain FAs activated UCP2and UCP3-mediated H translocation. Coenzyme Q10 had no further significant activating effect. Evaluated parameters of FA activation (FA cycling) kinetics reveal...

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) have shown great promise for ischemic tissue repair. However, poor viability of transplanted BMSCs within ischemic tissues has limited their therapeutic potential. Numerous evidences suggested that reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated and apoptosis play an important role in regulation BMSCs loss at the ischemic site. Uncoupling protein 2 (UC...