title: UCP2 protects hypothalamic cells from TNF-alpha-induced damage.
abstract: Uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) is highly expressed in the hypothalamus; however, little is known about the functions it exerts in this part of the brain. Here, we hypothesized that UCP2 protects hypothalamic cells from oxidative and pro-apoptotic damage generated by inflammatory stimuli. Intracerebroventricular injection of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha)-induced an increase of UCP2 expression in the hypothalamus, which was accompanied by increased expression of markers of oxidative stress and pro-apoptotic proteins. The inhibition of UCP2 expression by an antisense oligonucleotide enhanced the damaging effects of TNF-alpha. Conversely, increasing the hypothalamic expression of UCP2 by cold exposure reversed most of the effects of the cytokine. Thus, UCP2 acts as a protective factor against cellular damage induced by an inflammatory stimulus in the hypothalamus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Campinas, 13084-970 Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Giovanna R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Degasperi
authors.forename: Talita
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Romanatto
authors.forename: Raphael G P
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Denis
authors.forename: Eliana P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.forename: Juliana C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Moraes
authors.forename: Natália M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Inada
authors.forename: Aníbal E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Vercesi
authors.forename: Lício A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Velloso
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003080:Cold Temperature; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology; D000071246:Uncoupling Protein 2
chemical_list: D007473:Ion Channels; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C000604391:Ucp2 protein, rat; D000071246:Uncoupling Protein 2