TY - JOUR AB - Uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) plays a positive role in sepsis. However, the role of UCP2 in experimental sepsis in astrocytes remains unknown. The present study was designed to determine whether UCP2 has a protective effect in an experimental sepsis model in astrocytes asnd to clarify the mechanisms responsible for its neuroprotective effects after sepsis. An experimental astrocyte model mimicking sepsis‑induced brain injury was established using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interferon (IFN)‑γ. Additionally, UCP2 knockdown in astrocytes was achieved by adenovirus transfection. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‑α and interleukin (IL)‑1β activity, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels were assessed. The mitochondrial ultrastructure was evaluated, and the expression of UCP2 was determined by western blotting. LPS with IFN‑γ co‑stimulation increased the mRNA and protein expression levels of UCP2 in astrocytes, damaged the mitochondrial structure, and accelerated the release of TNF‑α and IL‑1β, resulting in a decrease in the MMP, and the excessive generation of ROS. Moreover, sepsis also caused a reduction in ATP production. The knockdown of UCP2 exacerbated astrocyte injury and mitochondrial impairment. In conclusion, both the function and morphology of mitochondria were damaged in an experimental model of sepsis in astrocytes, and knockdown of UCP2 using shRNA exacerbated this impairment, suggesting that UCP2 has a positive effect on astrocytes as determined in an experimental sepsis model. AD - Department of Pediatrics, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510280, P.R. China Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510623, P.R. China Department of Neonatology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510623, P.R. China Department of Pediatrics, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‑sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510655, P.R. China Department of Neonatology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, P.R. China Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China AU - Peng,Wanwan AU - Huang,Jinda AU - Zheng,Yijun AU - Ding,Yue AU - Li,Sitao AU - Zhang,Junliang AU - Lyu,Juanjuan AU - Zeng,Qiyi DA - 2019/11/01 DO - 10.3892/mmr.2019.10721 EP - 4466 IS - 5 JO - Mol Med Rep KW - astrocytes sepsis‑associated encephalopathy UCP2 mitochondrial dysfunction reactive oxygen species PY - 2019 SN - 1791-2997 1791-3004 SP - 4459 ST - UCP2 silencing aggravates mitochondrial dysfunction in astrocytes under septic conditions T2 - Molecular Medicine Reports TI - UCP2 silencing aggravates mitochondrial dysfunction in astrocytes under septic conditions UR - https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2019.10721 VL - 20 ER -