Humanin
Humanin is a short mitochondrial-derived peptide with cytoprotective and anti-apoptotic actions demonstrated mainly in cell culture and animal models of neurodegeneration and metabolic stress; human evidence is limited to observational associations between circulating humanin/analog levels and age or disease, not controlled trials of humanin administration.
This page is a research-orientation summary, not a dosing guide. For anything beyond general background, read the primary literature or talk to a qualified clinician — specifics like amount, frequency, or administration aren't something we publish here.
What it does & how it works
Humanin is translated from a short open reading frame within the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene and acts in part through a cell-surface receptor complex composed of ciliary neurotrophic factor receptor (CNTFR), WSX-1, and gp130, which triggers STAT3 and AMPK signaling. It also binds intracellular pro-apoptotic regulators such as Bax and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), thereby inhibiting mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis, and engages formyl peptide receptor-like-1 (FPRL1/FPR2) on immune cells to modulate inflammatory signaling. These combined pathways give humanin both direct cytoprotective and indirect anti-inflammatory modes of action.
Typical results seen in research
In cell and rodent models, humanin and more potent synthetic analogs (e.g., HNG, colivelin) reduce neuronal apoptosis in models of Alzheimer's disease, stroke, and oxidative stress, and improve markers of metabolic and cardiovascular stress resistance. Circulating humanin levels decline with age in some human cohorts and correlate with insulin sensitivity and vascular health markers in observational studies, but there are no completed controlled human trials establishing that administering humanin or its analogs improves clinical outcomes.
How it’s commonly used
Humanin and its analogs have been studied experimentally via injection (subcutaneous, intraperitoneal, or intracerebroventricular in animal models); it is not used as an approved human therapeutic and has no established clinical administration protocol outside research contexts.
- Aging (Albany NY) · 2020 The mitochondrial derived peptide humanin is a regulator of lifespan and healthspan
- Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Targets · 2019 Mitochondrial-derived peptide humanin as therapeutic target in cancer and degenerative diseases
- Life Sciences · 2021 Humanin: A mitochondrial-derived peptide in the treatment of apoptosis-related diseases
Curated from published literature for research orientation. Not an exhaustive review, and not a substitute for reading primary sources.