Mitochondrial uncoupling protein 2 is up-regulated in human head and neck, skin, pancreatic, and prostate tumors.
BACKGROUND
Mitochondrial uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) uncouples electron transport from ATP production. UCP2 has been shown to play an important role in obesity and diabetes. Interestingly, studies have demonstrated that UCP2 is up-regulated in human colon cancer samples.


OBJECTIVE
In order to study the role of UCP2 in human cancers, we detected the UCP2 protein level in various human tumor tissues.


METHODS
Six types of human tumor and adjacent normal tissue samples were collected and analyzed by Western blot assays to detect the levels of UCP2.


RESULTS
The results showed that in the human head and neck, skin, prostate, and pancreatic tumor samples examined, the protein levels of UCP2 were significantly higher in tumor tissues than that in the adjacent normal tissues. The protein levels of UCP2 was lower in non-small cell lung tumor tissues, which is marginal significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Over expression of UCP2 in certain tumors provides the rationale to speculate that UCP2 may promote tumor growth in these cancers.
LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, USA School of Basic Medicine, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei, China.
Wenjuan
W
Li
LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, USA.
Krystle
K
Nichols
LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, USA.
Cherie-Ann
CA
Nathan
LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, USA.
Yunfeng
Y
Zhao
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000071246:Uncoupling Protein 2; D015854:Up-Regulation
D007473:Ion Channels; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; C000604389:UCP2 protein, human; D000071246:Uncoupling Protein 2
Mitochondrial uncoupling 2; UCP2; mitochondrial membrane potential; oxidative phosphorylation