Basic & Clinical Medicine ›› 2026, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (11): 1550-1553.doi: 10.16352/j.issn.1001-6325.2026.11.1550

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Progress of research on the role of uncoupling protein 2 in hepatocellular carcinoma

SUN Fengqi, YU Yingjie, SONG Yunjia, YANG Jing, ZHAO Weiming*   

  1. School of Basic Medicine Sciences, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin 150040, China
  • Received:2025-10-16 Revised:2026-01-26 Online:2026-11-05 Published:2026-10-26
  • Contact: *zhaowm1969@126.com

Abstract: Uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) is a proton transport protein in the inner membrane of mitochondria, which promotes the malignant progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by inducing uncoupling effect through proton leakage. UCP2 promotes metabolic reprogramming of tumor cells and enhances glycolysis to meet the energy requirements for rapid proliferation; Reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential may decrease reactive oxygen species and prevent oxidative stress damage to tumor cells; It can also regulate apoptosis and autophagy processes, and promote chemotherapy resistance, and so on.

Key words: uncoupling protein 2, hepatocellular carcinoma, oxidative stress

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