The protective effects of S14G-humanin on gestational diabetes mellitus symptoms

Small peptides: could they have a big role in metabolism and the response to exercise?

Exercise is a powerful non-pharmacological intervention for the treatment and prevention of numerous chronic diseases. Contracting skeletal muscles provoke widespread perturbations in numerous cells, tissues and organs, which stimulate multiple integrated adaptations that ultimately contribute to the many health benefits associated with regular exercise. Despite much research, the molecular mechanisms driving such changes are not completely resolved. Technological advancements beginning in the early 1960s have opened new avenues to explore the mechanisms responsible for the many beneficial adaptations to exercise. This has led to increased research into the role of small peptides (<100 amino acids) and mitochondrially derived peptides in metabolism and disease, including those coded within small open reading frames (sORFs; coding sequences that encode small peptides). Recently, it has been hypothesized that sORF-encoded mitochondrially derived peptides and other small peptides play significant roles as exercise-sensitive peptides in exercise-induced physiological adaptation. In this review, we highlight the discovery of mitochondrially derived peptides and newly discovered small peptides involved in metabolism, with a specific emphasis on their functions in exercise-induced adaptations and the prevention of metabolic diseases. In light of the few studies available, we also present data on how both single exercise sessions and exercise training affect expression of sORF-encoded mitochondrially derived peptides. Finally, we outline numerous research questions that await investigation regarding the roles of mitochondrially derived peptides in metabolism and prevention of various diseases, in addition to their roles in exercise-induced physiological adaptations, for future studies.

S14G-humanin alleviates acute lung injury by inhibiting the activation of NF-κB

Acute lung injury (ALI) is characterized by severely damaged alveoli and blood vessels, seriously affecting the health of patients and causing a high mortality rate. The pathogenesis of ALI is complex, with inflammatory reactions and oxidative stress (OS) mainly involved. S14G humanin (HNG) is derived from humanin (HN), which is claimed with promising anti-inflammatory functions. Herein, the protective influence of HNG on ALI will be explored in a mouse model. The ALI model was established in mice via intratracheal instillation of 3 mg/kg LPS, followed by an intraperitoneal injection of 3 and 6 mg/kg HNG, respectively. Thicker alveolar walls, aggravated neutrophil infiltration, and increased wet weight/dry weight (W/D) ratio were observed in ALI mice, accompanied by an aggravated apoptotic state, all of which were notably alleviated by HNG. Furthermore, increased number of total cells and neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), elevated secretion of inflammatory cytokines, enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and declined superoxide dismutase-2 (SOD2) levels were observed in ALI mice, which were markedly ameliorated by HNG. Moreover, the upregulated levels of NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3), caspase-1, and caspases cleave gasdermin D N/caspases cleave gasdermin D FL (GSDMD N/GSDMD FL) in ALI mice were signally repressed by HNG. Lastly, the upregulation of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and p-p65/p65, and downregulation of IκB-α observed in ALI mice were sharply reversed by HNG. Collectively, HNG alleviated the ALI in mice by inhibiting the activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling.