The mitochondrial uncoupling protein (UCP), which is exclusively expressed in brown adipose tissue, regulates energy expenditure in rodents but its importance in the energy homeostasis of adult humans is uncertain. To study associations of UCP gene expression with human obesity, we determined, by a competitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay, UCP mRNA expression levels in ...

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) injected into the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) stimulates feeding and decreases uncoupling protein (UCP)-1 mRNA in brown adipose tissue (BAT). The present studies were undertaken to determine whether UCP-2 in white adipose tissue (WAT) and UCP-3 in muscle are regulated by NPY in the PVN. PVN-cannulated male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with either saline ...

To study the effect of nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs) on uncoupling protein-2 (UCP-2) and uncoupling protein-3 (UCP-3) gene expression, a triglyceride emulsion was infused for 5 h in 14 healthy volunteers. A euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp was administered concomitantly in 7 of the 14 subjects. The mRNA levels of UCP-2 and of the short (UCP-3S) and long (UCP-3L) isoforms of UCP-3 were quan...

The discovery of homologs of the brown fat uncoupling protein(s) (UCP) UCP-2 and UCP-3 revived the hypothesis of uncoupling protein involvement in the regulation of energy metabolism. Thus we hypothesized that UCP-2 would be regulated in the hepatocyte by fatty acids, which are known to control other energy-related metabolic processes. Treatment with 250 microM palmitic acid was without effect ...

Plant mitochondrial uncoupling protein (UCP) is activated by superoxide suggesting that it may function to minimize mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation. However, the precise mechanism of superoxide activation and the exact function of UCP in plants are not known. We demonstrate that 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE), a product of lipid peroxidation, and a structurally related compound...

Intervention: replacement of the UCP every 30 minutes until urine was passed (replaced UCP) (n = 38) or no replacement of the UCP (single UCP) (n = 42). The child’s perineum was cleaned with soap, and the reusable enuresis alarm sensor (Drinite Audio fx 2000 personal enuresis alarm, Ferraris Medical Ltd, Enfield, UK) was cleaned with an alcohol swab before each use. Wearing gloves, the nurse bu...

Fatty acids are thought to play a role in the activity of uncoupling proteins (UCP) and have been shown to regulate the expression of genes encoding proteins involved in fatty acid handling. Therefore, we investigated whether fatty acids, which are the main substrates for the heart, affect rat cardiac UCP-2 expression in vivo and in vitro. After birth, when the contribution of fatty acid oxidat...

Uncoupling protein-1 (UCP-1) activity in brown adipose tissue increases thermogenesis, contributes to facultative energy expenditure in humans, and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of rodent obesity. To determine genetic factors controlling UCP-1 expression in humans, we measured intra- and extraperitoneal UCP-1 mRNA abundance levels by a competitive RT-PCR method and compared expression...

Uncoupling proteins (UCPs) are mitochondrial inner membrane proteins that function to dissipate proton motive force and mitochondrial membrane potential. One UCP has been identified in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), namely UCP-4. In this study, we examined its expression and localization using a GFP marker in C. elegans. ucp-4 was expressed throughout the body from early embryo to aged ad...

The expression of uncoupling protein (UCP)-3 mRNA in skeletal muscle is dramatically reduced during lactation in mice. The reduction in UCP-3 mRNA levels lowers the amount of the UCP-3 protein in skeletal muscle mitochondria during lactation. Spontaneous or abrupt weaning reverses the downregulation of the UCP-3 mRNA but not the reduction in UCP-3 protein levels. In lactating and virgin mice, h...