U.O.C Nefrologia e Dialisi ASL SA, Ospedale L. M.SS. Addolorata,, Eboli, SA, Italy.
Department of Health Sciences, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy.
J Mol Histol. 2018 Aug;49(4):437-445. doi: 10.1007/s10735-018-9782-3. Epub 2018 Jun 23.
The uncoupling protein-2 (UCP2) is an anion transporter that plays a key role in the control of intracellular oxidative stress. In animal models UCP2 downregulation has several pathological sequelae, particularly affecting the vasculature and the kidney. Specifically, in these models kidney damage is highly favored in the absence of UCP2 in the context of experimental hypertension. Confirmations of these data in humans awaits further information, as no data are yet available concerning the cell-type and subcellular expression in the human kidney. In the present study, we aimed to characterize the UCP2 protein distribution in human kidney biopsies. In humans UCP2 is mainly localized in proximal convoluted tubule cells, with an intracytoplasmic punctate staining. UCP2 positive puncta are often localized at the interface between the endoplasmic reticulum and the mitochondria. Glomerular structures do not express UCP2 at detectable levels. The expression of UCP2 in proximal tubular cells may explain their relative propensity to damage in pathological conditions including the hypertensive disease.
解偶联蛋白 2（UCP2）是一种阴离子转运蛋白，在控制细胞内氧化应激方面发挥着关键作用。在动物模型中，UCP2 的下调会导致多种病理后果，特别是影响血管和肾脏。具体来说，在这些模型中，在实验性高血压的情况下，如果肾脏中没有 UCP2，肾脏损伤就非常容易发生。由于目前还没有关于人类肾脏中细胞类型和亚细胞表达的相关数据，因此这些数据在人类中的验证仍有待进一步研究。在本研究中，我们旨在研究 UCP2 蛋白在人类肾活检组织中的分布。在人类中，UCP2 主要定位于近端曲管细胞，呈细胞质内点状染色。UCP2 阳性点状结构通常位于内质网和线粒体之间的界面处。肾小球结构不表达可检测水平的 UCP2。UCP2 在近端肾小管细胞中的表达可能解释了它们在包括高血压疾病在内的病理条件下相对容易受损的原因。
