title: Uncoupling protein-2 and cancer.
abstract: Cancer cells respond to unfavorable microenvironments such as nutrient limitation, hypoxia, oxidative stress, and host defense by comprehensive metabolic reprogramming. Mitochondria are linked to this complex adaptive response and emerging evidence indicates that uncoupling protein-2 (UCP2), a mitochondrial inner membrane anion carrier, may contribute to this process. Effects of UCP2 on mitochondrial bioenergetics, redox homeostasis, and oxidant production in cancer cells may modulate molecular pathways of macromolecular biosynthesis, antioxidant defense, apoptosis, cell growth and proliferation, enhancing robustness and promoting chemoresistance. Elucidation of these interactions may identify novel anti-cancer strategies.
authors.affiliation: VA Boston Healthcare System and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. gbaffy@partners.org
authors.forename: Gyorgy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Baffy
mesh_terms: D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000071246:Uncoupling Protein 2
chemical_list: D007473:Ion Channels; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; C000604389:UCP2 protein, human; D000071246:Uncoupling Protein 2