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Absence of mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 affects apoptosis in thymocytes, thymocyte/T-cell profile and peripheral T-cell number

Biochim Biophys Acta. 2010 Jun-Jul;1797(6-7):807-16. doi: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2010.04.016. Epub 2010 Apr 24.

Abstract

Our laboratory has previously demonstrated the presence of constitutively expressed mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 in mouse thymocytes. In our endeavours to understand the role of mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 in thymocyte function, we compared cell profiles in thymus and spleen of wild-type with those of UCP 1 knock-out mice, which in turn led to comparative investigations of apoptotic potential in thymocytes from these mice. We demonstrate that spleen cell numbers were reduced approximately 3-fold in UCP 1 knock-out mice compared to wild-type mice. We record a halving of CD8 single positive cell numbers in thymus with a significant incremental increase in CD4/CD8 double positives cell numbers in the thymus of UCP 1 knock-out mice compared to wild-type mice. These data are mirrored by an approximate halving of CD8 single positive cell numbers and a doubling of CD4/CD8 double positive cell numbers in the spleen of UCP 1 knock-out mice compared to wild-type mice. These differences are most probably explained by our observations of decreased apoptotic potential and higher ATP levels in thymocytes of UCP 1 knock-out mice when compared to wild-type controls. We conclude that constitutively expressed UCP 1 is a factor in determining T-cell population selection in mice.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphate / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Apoptosis / immunology*
  • Caspases / metabolism
  • Dexamethasone / pharmacology
  • Female
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Ion Channels / deficiency*
  • Ion Channels / genetics
  • Ion Channels / immunology*
  • Lymphocyte Count
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mitochondrial Proteins / deficiency*
  • Mitochondrial Proteins / genetics
  • Mitochondrial Proteins / immunology*
  • Oxygen Consumption
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / cytology*
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism
  • Uncoupling Protein 1

Substances

  • Ion Channels
  • Mitochondrial Proteins
  • Ucp1 protein, mouse
  • Uncoupling Protein 1
  • Dexamethasone
  • Adenosine Triphosphate
  • Caspases