Cinnamon hydro alcoholic extract increased expression level of UCP3 gene in skeletal muscle of obese male Wistar Rats

abstractUCPs are the mitochondrial inner membrane proteins regulating basal metabolism. Ucp3 in muscle and adipose tissue helping metabolism and fat oxidation affecting thermogenesis, involve in fatty acid metabolism and energy homeostasis.42 adult rats divided into 6 groups including control group, the high-fat diet Obese group, experimental groups that in addition to the high-fat diet received 50,100,200 mgKg-1 doses of cinnamon extract and the sham group with 200 mgKg-1 extract treatment. RNA extracted from muscles, cDNA synthesized and Ucp3 gene expression level was examined by real-time PCR.In Obese rats’ muscle, significant decrease in UCP3 gene expression was observed but in exprimental groups there was significant increased level of UCP3 gene expression in 100, 50 mgKg-1 dose of treatment.UCP3 might be a target for pharmacological up regulation in treatment of obesity. Cinnamon might influence UCP3 expression, in a dose dependent manner and low dose was more effective.

Genetic variants of uncoupling proteins-2 and -3 in relation to maximal oxygen uptake in different sports.

Uncoupling proteins 2 and 3 (UCP2 and UCP3) as mitochondrial electron transporters are involved in regulation of ATP production and energy dissipation as heat. Energy efficiency plays an important role in physical performance, especially in aerobic fitness. The aim of this study was to examine the association between maximal oxygen uptake and genetic variants of the UCP2 and UCP3 genes. The studies were carried out in a group of 154 men and 85 women, professional athletes representing various sports and fitness levels and students of the University of Physical Education in Poznań. Physiological and molecular procedures were used, i.e. direct measurement of maximum oxygen uptake (VO₂max) and analysis of an insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism in the 3'untranslated region of exon 8 of the UCP2 gene and a C>T substitution in exon 5 (Y210Y) of the UCP3 gene. No statistically significant associations were found, only certain trends. Insertion allele (I) of the I/D UCP2 and the T allele of the UCP3 gene were favourable in obtaining higher VO₂max level and might be considered as endurance-related alleles.