Abstract
Uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) is a member of the mitochondrial proton transport family that uncouples proton entry to the mitochondria from ATP synthesis. UCP2 expression levels have been linked to predisposition to diabetes and obesity. In addition, UCP2 prevents neuronal death and injury. Here we show that the common −866G/A promoter polymorphism is associated with susceptibility to multiple sclerosis (MS) in the German population. We analysed altogether 1,097 MS patients and 462 control subjects from two cohorts and found that the common G allele is associated with disease susceptibility (p=0.0015). The UCP2 −866G allele is correlated with lower levels of UCP2 expression as shown here in vitro and in vivo. Thus, UCP2 promoter polymorphism may contribute to MS susceptibility by regulating the level of UCP2 protein in the central nervous and/or the immune systems.
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Acknowledgements
We would like to thank Rica Waterstradt, Ildikó Tóth and Andrea Petzold for excellent technical assistance. This study was funded in part by the German Federal Ministry of Research and Education (FKZ 01ZZ0108) and by Hertie Stiftung (1.319.110/02/05).
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S. Vogler and R. Goedde contributed equally to this work
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Vogler, S., Goedde, R., Miterski, B. et al. Association of a common polymorphism in the promoter of UCP2 with susceptibility to multiple sclerosis. J Mol Med 83, 806–811 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00109-005-0661-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00109-005-0661-5