Humanin at a glance
A fast read for beginners, with evidence strength, route context, safety depth, and community activity surfaced before the deeper sections.
Humanin is a 21-amino acid peptide encoded within the 16S rRNA gene of the mitochondrial genome. Discovered in 2001 by Nishimoto and colleagues while screening a cDNA library from surviving neurons of Alzheimer's patients, it was identified as a peptide that conferred protection against Alzheimer's-related neuronal death.
Humanin circulates in human plasma at low nanomolar concentrations and declines significantly with age. Its cytoprotective effects are mediated through multiple pathways: binding to the formyl peptide receptor-like-1 (FPRL1) on cell surfaces, activating JAK2/STAT3 signaling, and interacting with pro-apoptotic proteins including BAX and tBID to prevent programmed cell death.
Beyond neuroprotection, Humanin improves insulin sensitivity (comparable to metformin in some models), reduces atherosclerotic plaque formation, and extends lifespan in animal models. Humanin analogs - particularly HNG (Gly14-Humanin) and HNGF6A - show 100-1000-fold greater potency than the native peptide and are the primary research candidates for clinical translation.
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