Research information only, not medical advice. Humanin is a 24-amino-acid mitochondrial-derived peptide encoded within the mitochondrial 16S rRNA (MT-RNR2) region, and was the first identified of a class of mitochondrial-derived peptides that also includes MOTS-c and the SHLP peptides (Lee et al., PMC3641182). It is not an approved drug for any indication; the literature treats it as an endogenous cytoprotective factor and candidate biomarker, with therapeutic work confined to cell and animal models (PMC3641182; PMC7778388). No human adverse-effect profile is established, because humanin and its analogs have not been administered as therapeutics in controlled clinical trials.
Humanin at a glance
The evidence base is preclinical (cell and animal models) together with human biomarker associations; humanin has not been administered as a therapeutic in controlled clinical trials (Lee et al., PMC3641182). Humanin was first described as neuroprotective against amyloid-beta toxicity in vitro and exerts anti-apoptotic effects by binding the pro-apoptotic protein Bax and by interacting with IGFBP3 (reviewed in PMC3641182). Mechanistically, it signals through the gp130/IL-6ST receptor complex to activate STAT3, ERK1/2, and AKT pathways (Cohen et al., 2017, PMC5216912). In humans, plasma humanin correlates positively with age in healthy subjects and is reported lower in Alzheimer's disease, but these are observational biomarker associations, not evidence of therapeutic benefit (Conte et al., PMC8110619). The potent analog S14G-humanin (HNG) reduces infarct size and improves outcomes in rodent models of stroke, diabetes, and ischemia/reperfusion, but has not entered human clinical trials (PMC8806847; PMC10692773).
See how we grade evidence for the methodology behind this page.
Evidence profile
173 studies- Human RCT 1 · 1%
- Human trial 6 · 3%
- Review 17 · 10%
- Animal 29 · 17%
- In-vitro 34 · 20%
- Unknown 86 · 50%
The longer the green, the stronger the human evidence. For most research peptides the bar is dominated by animal and in-vitro work, which is a signal to read every claim carefully.
Regulatory status
Clinical trials
- NCT03431844 COMPLETED
Humanin Isoforms in Cardiac Muscle and Blood Plasma and Major Complications After Cardiac Operation
- NCT06105229 UNKNOWN
Clinical Value of Plasma Humanin in Acute Kidney Injury
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Comparison of the Effects of General Anesthesia and Combined Spinal-Epidural Anesthesia on Ferroptosis, Humanin and MOTS-c Levels in Renal Transplantation
Indexed research
Sorted by evidence level, strongest first.
- Human RCT 2025Redox-sensitive miRNAs and Humanin could mediate effects of exercise and astaxanthin on oxidative stress and inflammation in type 2 diabetes
- Human trial 2026Circulating mitochondrial-derived microproteins at rest and in response to an acute bout of endurance exercise in individuals with cerebral palsy
This study compared circulating mitochondrial-derived microprotein levels between individuals with cerebral palsy and typically developing individuals at rest and after an acute bout of endurance exercise.
- Human trial 2025Insights into the Biomarker Potential of Humanin and Mots-c Expression and Telomere Length in Alzheimer's Disease
This case-control study found that blood and plasma transcript levels of Humanin and MOTS-c were reduced in Alzheimer's disease compared to subjective cognitive decline, suggesting potential as early biomarkers.
- Human trial 2025Mediterranean diet adherence is associated with mitochondrial microproteins Humanin and SHMOOSE; potential role of the Humanin-Nox2 interaction in cardioprotection
The study found that adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with higher levels of mitochondrial microproteins Humanin and SHMOOSE, and Humanin was inversely related to markers of oxidative stress, suggesting a potential cardioprotective mechanism.
- Human trial 2026Circulating Humanin Improves the Prognostic Accuracy of Cardiovascular Risk Models in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients
This study found that circulating Humanin levels improved the predictive accuracy of cardiovascular risk models in chronic hemodialysis patients.
- Human trial 2026<b>Evaluation of the role of humanin and some biochemical variables in type 2 diabetes patients</b>
This study compared humanin levels and biochemical variables between type 2 diabetes patients and controls, finding lower humanin in patients and correlations with age, sex, and BMI.
- Human trial 2026Altered placental expression of small humanin-like peptides in gestational diabetes mellitus
This study found that placental expression of small humanin-like peptides is reduced in gestational diabetes mellitus and associated with maternal metabolic parameters.
- Review 2026HNN and HN(C)N suite of NMR experiments for rapid determination of protein backbone resonance assignment and backbone structure
- Review 2026Decoding viral evolution through integrative bioinformatics: From genomes to global health
- Review 2026Mitochondrial-Derived Peptides as Therapeutics and Biomarkers for Combating Vascular Aging and Associated Cardiovascular Diseases
+ 163 more studies indexed for Humanin.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Humanin approved for human use?
- Humanin is a 24-amino-acid mitochondrial-derived peptide encoded within the mitochondrial 16S rRNA (MT-RNR2) region, and was the first identified of a class of mitochondrial-derived peptides that also includes MOTS-c and the SHLP peptides (Lee et al., PMC3641182). It is not an approved drug for any indication; the literature treats it as an endogenous cytoprotective factor and candidate biomarker, with therapeutic work confined to cell and animal models (PMC3641182; PMC7778388). No human adverse-effect profile is established, because humanin and its analogs have not been administered as therapeutics in controlled clinical trials.
- What does the research on Humanin show?
- The evidence base is preclinical (cell and animal models) together with human biomarker associations; humanin has not been administered as a therapeutic in controlled clinical trials (Lee et al., PMC3641182). Humanin was first described as neuroprotective against amyloid-beta toxicity in vitro and exerts anti-apoptotic effects by binding the pro-apoptotic protein Bax and by interacting with IGFBP3 (reviewed in PMC3641182). Mechanistically, it signals through the gp130/IL-6ST receptor complex to activate STAT3, ERK1/2, and AKT pathways (Cohen et al., 2017, PMC5216912). In humans, plasma humanin correlates positively with age in healthy subjects and is reported lower in Alzheimer's disease, but these are observational biomarker associations, not evidence of therapeutic benefit (Conte et al., PMC8110619). The potent analog S14G-humanin (HNG) reduces infarct size and improves outcomes in rodent models of stroke, diabetes, and ischemia/reperfusion, but has not entered human clinical trials (PMC8806847; PMC10692773).