Establishment of a conditional transgenic mouse model expressing human uncoupling protein 2 in vascular smooth muscle cells

Increased oxidative stress is involved in the development of vascular dysfunction and remodeling. Uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) regulates the production of reactive oxygen species in vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs). To promote the study of the role of UCP2 in vascular diseases, a transgenic mouse model expressing human UCP2 (hUCP2) in vascular SMCs was established. We constructed a plasmid carrying the 2.3 kb rabbit smooth muscle myosin heavy chain promoter and the hUCP2 gene. We used this plasmid to produce transgenic mice by pro-nuclear microinjection. Six offspring were identified as founder mice that were used to establish a transgenic mouse lineage. The transgenic mice showed a significant increase in hUCP mRNA expression in the aorta. Moreover, hUCP2 overexpression inhibited the production of superoxide and increased the bioavailability of nitric oxide (NO). In this study, we established a hUCP2 transgenic mouse model, which will enable further studies on the role of UCP2 in vascular dysfunction and remodeling.