HIGH EXPRESSION OF UNCOUPLING PROTEIN-2 IN FETAL LIVER

To assess the putative role of mitochondrial uncoupling protein 2 (UCP 2) during perinatal development, its expression was analysed in mice a nd rats. Expression was detected in a large range of foetal tissues. A unique developmental pattern of UCP2 expression was found in liver, w here the level of UCP2 mRNA was about 30-fold higher in foetuses than in adults (mice data), and started to decline immediately after birth. Neither UCP1 nor UCP3 mRNA was expressed in foetal liver. As in adult liver, immunohistochemical analysis suggested exclusive localisation of UCP2 in the monocyte/macrophage cells. Our results indicate a role of UCP2 in haematopoietic system development. (C) 1998 Federation of E uropean Biochemical Societies.