In this study, we investigated the effects of green tea (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on the mRNA level and promoter activity of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2), a mitochondrial membrane transporter that regulates energy expenditure and thermogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. EGCG up-regulated the UCP2 mRNA level in a dose-dependent manner. UCP2 promoter activity was significantly stimulated by EGCG treatment, to an extent similar to that seen in mRNA expression. These results suggest that expression of UCP2 gene is directly regulated by green tea EGCG, which is mediated through the transcriptional activation of its proximal promoter.

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