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Updated: Jul 19, 2026

Bone Marrow-derived Macrophage Production
Published on: November 22, 2013
Mitochondria contribute to LPS-induced MAPK activation via uncoupling protein UCP2 in macrophages
Yalin Emre1, Corinne Hurtaud, Tobias Nübel
1CNRS UPR 9078, Faculté de Médecine Paris 5 Descartes-Necker, 156 rue de Vaugirard, 75730 Paris Cedex 15, France.
Abstract:
The mitochondrion is a major organelle contributing to energy metabolism but also a main site of ROS (reactive oxygen species) production. LPS (lipopolysaccharide)-induced ROS signalling is a critical event in macrophage activation. In the present paper we report that part of LPS-mediated ROS signalling comes from mitochondria inside a signal amplification loop that enhances MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) activation. More precisely, we have identified the inner mitochondrial membrane UCP2 (uncoupling protein 2) as a physiological brake on ROS signalling. Stimulation of murine bone marrow-derived macrophages by LPS quickly down-regulated UCP2 through the JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase) and p38 pathways. UCP2 down-regulation was shown to be necessary to increase mitochondrial ROS production in order to potentiate MAPK activation. Consistent with this, UCP2-deficient macrophages exhibit an enhanced inflammatory state characterized by increased nitric oxide production and elevated migration ability. Additionally, we found that the absence of UCP2 renders macrophages more resistant to nitric oxide-induced apoptosis.
Insights
Mitochondrial uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) acts as a brake on reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling during macrophage activation. Down-regulation of UCP2 by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) enhances ROS production, boosting mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Immunology
- Mitochondrial Biology
Background:
- Mitochondria are central to cellular energy metabolism and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production.
- Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) triggers macrophage activation through ROS signaling pathways.
- Understanding the regulation of ROS in immune cells is crucial for controlling inflammation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of mitochondria in LPS-induced ROS signaling.
- To identify specific mitochondrial proteins involved in regulating ROS production during macrophage activation.
- To elucidate the mechanism by which ROS signaling amplifies MAPK activation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized murine bone marrow-derived macrophages.
- Investigated the effect of LPS stimulation on UCP2 expression and localization.
- Examined the impact of UCP2 down-regulation on mitochondrial ROS production and MAPK activation.
- Assessed inflammatory markers and apoptosis in UCP2-deficient macrophages.
Main Results:
- Identified UCP2 in the inner mitochondrial membrane as a brake on ROS signaling.
- Demonstrated that LPS stimulation down-regulates UCP2 via JNK and p38 pathways.
- Showed UCP2 down-regulation is essential for enhanced mitochondrial ROS production and MAPK potentiation.
- Observed that UCP2-deficient macrophages exhibit increased nitric oxide production, migration, and resistance to nitric oxide-induced apoptosis.
Conclusions:
- UCP2 acts as a physiological brake on ROS signaling, modulating macrophage activation.
- LPS-induced UCP2 down-regulation is a key step in amplifying MAPK signaling through mitochondrial ROS.
- UCP2 deficiency exacerbates the inflammatory state of macrophages and confers resistance to apoptosis.
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