The role of the uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) on the development of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus.
It is well established that genetic factors play an important role in the development of both type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) and obesity, and that genetically susceptible subjects can develop these metabolic diseases after being exposed to environmental risk factors. Therefore, great efforts have been made to identify genes associated with DM2 and/or obesity. Uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) is mainly expressed in brown adipose tissue, and acts in thermogenesis, regulation of energy expenditure, and protection against oxidative stress. All these mechanisms are associated with the pathogenesis of DM2 and obesity. Hence, UCP1 is a candidate gene for the development of these disorders. Indeed, several studies have reported that polymorphisms -3826A/G, -1766A/G and -112A/C in the promoter region, Ala64Thr in exon 2 and Met299Leu in exon 5 of UCP1 gene are possibly associated with obesity and/or DM2. However, results are still controversial in different populations. Thus, the aim of this study was to review the role of UCP1 in the development of these metabolic diseases.
Endocrinology Division, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, RS, Brazil.
Letícia de Almeida
LA
Brondani
Taís Silveira
TS
Assmann
Guilherme Coutinho Kullmann
GC
Duarte
Jorge Luiz
JL
Gross
Luís Henrique
LH
Canani
Daisy
D
Crispim
D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000235:genetics*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D000071256:Uncoupling Protein 1
D007473:Ion Channels; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; C000604371:UCP1 protein, human; D000071256:Uncoupling Protein 1