MOTS-c helps muscles stay strong when inactive
Mitochondrial-derived microprotein MOTS-c attenuates immobilization-induced skeletal muscle atrophy by suppressing lipid infiltration.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
When mice can't move their legs, their muscles shrink. But giving them MOTS-c, a tiny protein from mitochondria, helps keep their muscles bigger and healthier. It does this by reducing fat buildup in muscles and lowering inflammation.
Surprising Findings
MOTS-c reduced muscle atrophy by targeting fat infiltration — not just inflammation or protein breakdown.
Most anti-atrophy research focuses on protein synthesis or inflammation. This study shows lipid accumulation is a major driver, and MOTS-c specifically blocks it.
Practical Takeaways
If you’re recovering from injury or surgery, ask your doctor about future therapies targeting mitochondrial peptides like MOTS-c.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
When mice can't move their legs, their muscles shrink. But giving them MOTS-c, a tiny protein from mitochondria, helps keep their muscles bigger and healthier. It does this by reducing fat buildup in muscles and lowering inflammation.
Surprising Findings
MOTS-c reduced muscle atrophy by targeting fat infiltration — not just inflammation or protein breakdown.
Most anti-atrophy research focuses on protein synthesis or inflammation. This study shows lipid accumulation is a major driver, and MOTS-c specifically blocks it.
Practical Takeaways
If you’re recovering from injury or surgery, ask your doctor about future therapies targeting mitochondrial peptides like MOTS-c.
Publication
Journal
American journal of physiology. Endocrinology and metabolism
Year
2024
Authors
Hiroshi Kumagai, Su-Jeong Kim, Brendan Miller, Toshiharu Natsume, J. Wan, Michihiko Kumagai, Ricardo Ramirez Ii, Shin Hyung Lee, Ayaka Sato, H. Mehta, K. Yen, P. Cohen
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Claims (10)
MOTS-c treatment reduced collagen buildup in the muscles of immobilized mice, which may help prevent stiffness.
MOTS-c lowered levels of myostatin, a protein that inhibits muscle growth, in the muscles of immobilized mice.
In immobilized mice, higher levels of MOTS-c in the muscles were linked to better muscle mass retention.
When mice had their legs immobilized for 8 days, giving them MOTS-c helped their muscles lose less weight (5% instead of 15%) compared to mice that didn't get the treatment.
MOTS-c helped maintain higher activity levels of key muscle signaling proteins (AKT, FOXO1, FOXO3a) in immobilized mice, which are important for muscle health.