scholarly journals Neuroprotective Role of Mitochondrial Uncoupling Protein 2 in Cerebral Stroke

2009 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 1069-1078 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suresh L Mehta ◽  
P. Andy Li

The uncoupling proteins (UCPs) are mitochondrial transporter proteins involved in proton conductance across inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM). UCP2, which is one of the members of this class of proteins, has a wide but restricted tissue distribution including brain. Its physiologic role according to emerging evidences, although still not clear, indicate that distribution of UCP2 may be related to regulation of mitochondria membrane potential (ΔΨm), production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), preservation of calcium homeostasis, modulation of neuronal activity, and eventually inhibition of cellular damage. These factors are very important in determining the fate of neurons and damage progression in the brain during various neurodegenerative diseases including cerebral stroke. Recent evidence indicates that an increased expression and activity of UCP2 are well correlated with neuronal survival after stroke and trauma. This review briefly covers the present understanding of UCP2, which eventually may be beneficial to understand the precise role of UCP2 to develop strategy to identify its potential therapeutic application.

2014 ◽  
pp. S73-S91 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. JEŽEK ◽  
T. OLEJÁR ◽  
K. SMOLKOVÁ ◽  
J. JEŽEK ◽  
A. DLASKOVÁ ◽  
...  

Research on brown adipose tissue and its hallmark protein, mitochondrial uncoupling protein UCP1, has been conducted for half a century and has been traditionally studied in the Institute of Physiology (AS CR, Prague), likewise UCP2 residing in multiple tissues for the last two decades. Our group has significantly contributed to the elucidation of UCP uncoupling mechanism, fully dependent on free fatty acids (FFAs) within the inner mitochondrial membrane. Now we review UCP2 physiological roles emphasizing its roles in pancreatic β-cells, such as antioxidant role, possible tuning of redox homeostasis (consequently UCP2 participation in redox regulations), and fine regulation of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS). For example, NADPH has been firmly established as being a modulator of GSIS and since UCP2 may influence redox homeostasis, it likely affects NADPH levels. We also point out the role of phospholipase iPLA2 isoform  in providing FFAs for the UCP2 antioxidant function. Such initiation of mild uncoupling hypothetically precedes lipotoxicity in pancreatic β-cells until it reaches the pathological threshold, after which the antioxidant role of UCP2 can be no more cell-protective, for example due to oxidative stress-accumulated mutations in mtDNA. These mechanisms, together with impaired autocrine insulin function belong to important causes of Type 2 diabetes etiology.


1999 ◽  
Vol 276 (1) ◽  
pp. E179-E187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcelo Branco ◽  
Miriam Ribeiro ◽  
Nubio Negrão ◽  
Antonio C. Bianco

To investigate the role of type II 5′-deiodinase (5′D-II) in the expression of mitochondrial uncoupling protein (UCP) in brown adipose tissue (BAT), we injected intact male rats with reverse (r) 3,5,3′-triiodothyronine (T3; 100 μg ⋅ 100 g body wt−1 ⋅ day−1), an inhibitor of 5′D-II, for 2–5 days. UCP decreased by ∼20% in rats kept at 28°C and failed to increase during cold exposure (4°C). Next, thyroxine treatment (1–10 μg ⋅ 100 g body wt−1 ⋅ day−1) increased nuclear T3 in rats kept at 28 or 4°C. In these rats, nuclear T3 correlated positively with UCP. In addition, T3 (1–50 μg ⋅ 100 g body wt−1 ⋅ day−1) given to intact rats (5–15 days; 28°C) induced an approximately twofold increase in UCP. In these T3-treated animals, the interscapular BAT thermal response to norepinephrine infusion also correlated positively with T3 dose and UCP content. Treatment with propranolol or reserpine failed to block the T3 induction of UCP (∼1.8- and ∼2.3-fold). The results emphasize the importance of local 5′D-II and reveal an independent role of T3 in the expression of UCP.


2006 ◽  
Vol 290 (5) ◽  
pp. E1014-E1021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ken-ichi Inokuma ◽  
Yuko Okamatsu-Ogura ◽  
Asako Omachi ◽  
Yukiko Matsushita ◽  
Kazuhiro Kimura ◽  
...  

Mitochondrial uncoupling protein-1 (UCP1) has been thought to be a key molecule for thermogenesis during cold exposure and spontaneous hyperphagia and thereby in the autonomic regulation of energy expenditure and adiposity. However, UCP1 knockout (KO) mice were reported to be cold intolerant but unexpectedly did not get obese even after hyperphagia, implying that UCP1 may not be involved in the regulation of adiposity. Treatment of obese animals with β3-adrenergic agonists is known to increase lipid mobilization, induce UCP1, and, finally, reduce body fat content. To obtain direct evidence for the role of UCP1 in the anti-obesity effect of β3-adrenergic stimulation, in the present study, UCP1-KO and wild-type (WT) mice were fed on cafeteria diets for 8 wk and then given a β3-adrenergic agonist, CL-316,243 (CL), or saline for 2 wk. A single injection of CL increased whole body oxygen consumption and brown fat temperature in WT mice but not in KO mice, and it elicited almost the same plasma free fatty acid response in WT and KO mice. WT and KO mice increased similarly their body and white fat pad weights on cafeteria diets compared with those on laboratory chow. Daily treatment with CL resulted in a marked reduction of white fat pad weight and the size of adipocytes in WT mice, but not in KO mice. Compared with WT mice, KO mice expressed increased levels of UCP2 in brown fat but decreased levels in white fat and comparable levels of UCP3. It was concluded that the anti-obesity effect of β3-adrenergic stimulation is largely attributable to UCP1, but less to UCP2 and UCP3, and thereby to UCP1-dependent degradation of fatty acids released from white adipose tissue.


2011 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 244-253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alina Smorodchenko ◽  
Anne Rupprecht ◽  
Julia Fuchs ◽  
Johann Gross ◽  
Elena E. Pohl

2012 ◽  
Vol 1823 (10) ◽  
pp. 1856-1863 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisa Dalla Pozza ◽  
Claudia Fiorini ◽  
Ilaria Dando ◽  
Marta Menegazzi ◽  
Anna Sgarbossa ◽  
...  

2005 ◽  
Vol 185 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer H Steel ◽  
Roger White ◽  
Malcolm G Parker

RIP140 is a ligand-dependent corepressor for most, if not all, nuclear receptors. It is expressed widely in many different tissues, but the phenotype of mice devoid of RIP140 indicates that it plays a crucial role in the ovary and in adipose biology. Ovarian expression of RIP140 is cell-type-specific during follicular development and it is essential for oocyte release during ovulation, but not for luteinization of mature ovarian follicles. In adipose tissue, RIP140 is essential for normal fat accumulation and RIP140-null mice show decreased lipid storage even on a high-fat diet, with upregulation of mitochondrial uncoupling protein (UCP1) in some fat depots. Thus RIP140 plays a crucial role in female fertility and in energy homeostasis, and could be a target for infertility treatment, new contraceptive strategies or prevention of obesity.


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