Downregulation of uncoupling protein 2 mRNA in women treated with glucocorticoids.
OBJECTIVE
Glucocorticoids are well-known regulators of energy turnover and adipose tissue metabolism. We investigated the effect of glucocorticoids on the expression of the human uncoupling protein 2 (UCP 2) gene, which has been implicated in energy expenditure.


METHODS
Prednisolone (25 mg) was administered orally daily for 7 days. Subcutaneous adipose tissue UCP 2 mRNA was measured before and after treatment.


METHODS
Eight healthy female subjects (age 52-63 y; body mass index 25-34 kg/m2).


RESULTS
No differences in body weight, waist-to-hip ratio or plasma-values of FFA or glucose were found after prednisolone treatment, as compared to pre-treatment values under these conditions. In contrast, plasma insulin levels were significantly increased by glucocorticoid administration, 54+/-6 before vs 70+/-12 (mean+/-sem) pmol/l after treatment (P=0.028). Furthermore, using RT-competitive-PCR, the UCP 2 mRNA level in abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue was found to be down-regulated by half (6.3+/-0.4 vs 3.1+/-0.8 amol/microg RNA, P=0.012) after glucocorticoid treatment. No difference in expression levels of the reference gene 18SrRNA was observed before, as compared to after prednisolone exposure (249+/-11 vs 248+/-30 amol/microg RNA, P=0.87).


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that glucocorticoids may play a role in the regulation of UCP 2 mRNA expression in human adipose tissue in vivo.
Uddén
J
J
Centre for Metabolism and Endocrinology, Department of Medicine and Neurotec, Karolinska Institutet at Huddinge University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Folkesson
R
R
Hoffstedt
J
J
D000005:Abdomen; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000187:drug effects*; D000284:Administration, Oral; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007473:Ion Channels; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D008875:Middle Aged; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011506:Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D000071246:Uncoupling Protein 2
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007328:Insulin; D007473:Ion Channels; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C000604389:UCP2 protein, human; D000071246:Uncoupling Protein 2; D011239:Prednisolone