MOTS-c is an exercise-induced mitochondrial-encoded regulator of age-dependent physical decline and muscle homeostasis.
Reynolds JC, Lai RW, Woodhead JST et al. · Nature communications · PMID 33473109
Study summary
Main finding
Exercise increased naturally occurring MOTS-c in human muscle and circulation. Separately, MOTS-c treatment improved several physical-performance measures in mice and altered muscle stress responses.
Mouse treatment experiments & exercise observations in 10 men
How the study was set up
MOTS-c administration was studied in mice of different ages. A separate human component measured naturally occurring MOTS-c in muscle and blood after exercise.
What the researchers measured
Mouse physical-performance measures and muscle stress-response pathways, plus exercise-related changes in human MOTS-c levels.
How to read this evidence
This paper combines observations in people with laboratory or animal experiments. Measuring a naturally occurring peptide in people is different from testing peptide administration.
Results in context
The human and mouse parts answer different questions. The human observations concern the body's response to exercise; the administration and performance experiments were in mice. Combining those findings does not demonstrate an exercise benefit from administering MOTS-c to people.
What this does not establish
The human component measured endogenous peptide after exercise; participants were not treated with MOTS-c. Mouse treatment results are not evidence of benefit from human administration.
Publication & source
Why this paper is included
The compound is a named subject of the publication title.
Publication indexing
Journal Article · Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural · Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't