Liver wedge and core-needle biopsy samples were collected in the operating room from both donors and recipients. Freeze clamp samples were evaluated for UCP-2 by Northern and Western blot analysis. Comparisons of databases between control and donor and recipient subjects in addition to morbidity and mortality were correlated with fat content and UCP-2 expression. Thirty patient's samples were collected and analyzed by histology and Northern and Western blotting. Uncoupling proteins were upregulated in fatty livers but not in cirrhotic explanted livers by Western blot analysis.
Steatotic livers have an upregulation of uncoupling proteins.
The murine model of fatty change and UCP-2 expression correlates well with the human condition. Thereby, the murine model may be a reasonable one to explore primary nonfunction in the human setting. Outcome measures will allow us to preemptively evaluate an associative and possibly mechanistic correlation between fatty change, UCP-2 expression, and poor liver graft survival. Further investigations need to be carried out to elucidate the potential clinical significance of uncoupling protein expression and graft and patient survival.