MOTS-c helps pancreas cells stay young and fight diabetes
Mitochondrial-encoded peptide MOTS-c prevents pancreatic islet cell senescence to delay diabetes
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
A tiny protein made by mitochondria, called MOTS-c, helps keep pancreas cells healthy and working. As we age or get diabetes, these cells get old and stop working well. MOTS-c can reverse some of this aging in mice and people, helping them manage blood sugar better.
Surprising Findings
MOTS-c, a tiny peptide from mitochondria, can reverse signs of aging in pancreatic cells — not just in mice, but in human data too.
Most people think aging is irreversible, and mitochondria are just energy factories. But this study shows a mitochondrial peptide can actively regulate gene expression and metabolism to combat cellular senescence — a major diabetes driver.
Practical Takeaways
Focus on lifestyle habits that boost mitochondrial health — like intermittent fasting, resistance training, and cold exposure — which may naturally increase MOTS-c levels.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
A tiny protein made by mitochondria, called MOTS-c, helps keep pancreas cells healthy and working. As we age or get diabetes, these cells get old and stop working well. MOTS-c can reverse some of this aging in mice and people, helping them manage blood sugar better.
Surprising Findings
MOTS-c, a tiny peptide from mitochondria, can reverse signs of aging in pancreatic cells — not just in mice, but in human data too.
Most people think aging is irreversible, and mitochondria are just energy factories. But this study shows a mitochondrial peptide can actively regulate gene expression and metabolism to combat cellular senescence — a major diabetes driver.
Practical Takeaways
Focus on lifestyle habits that boost mitochondrial health — like intermittent fasting, resistance training, and cold exposure — which may naturally increase MOTS-c levels.
Publication
Journal
Experimental & Molecular Medicine
Year
2025
Authors
B. Kong, Hyunsuk Lee, S. L’Yi, Serin Hong, Y. Cho
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Claims (10)
Mitochondrial health serves as the bridge between fat loss and performance, and effective peptide stacking requires combining interventions with different mechanisms, such as tesamorelin (growth hormone/IGF-1 pathway) and MOTS-c (AMPK/mitochondrial energy sensing pathway), which act through distinct but complementary pathways to enhance mitochondrial function.
People with type 2 diabetes have less MOTS-c in their blood than people without diabetes.
Older mice have less MOTS-c in their pancreatic cells than younger mice.
Giving MOTS-c to diabetic mice helps reduce signs of aging in their pancreatic cells.
MOTS-c helps diabetic mice process sugar better and reduces aging signs in their pancreas cells.