Study record
MOTS-c-modified functional self-assembly peptide hydrogels enhance the activity of nucleus pulposus-derived mesenchymal stem cells of intervertebral disc degeneration
Lin Y, Yang RY, Li J et al. · Mater Today Bio · 2025
What this study reported
Reported that MOTS-c exposure was associated with less apoptosis, senescence and reactive oxygen species production in oxidant-stressed nucleus pulposus-derived mesenchymal stem cells, and that SIRT1 inhibition abolished these differences, implicating AMPK/SIRT1 signalling. Found that a MOTS-c-conjugated self-assembling peptide hydrogel was associated with greater cell viability and extracellular matrix expression in culture, and with preserved disc height, higher T2-weighted MRI signal and lower histological degeneration scores in a rat disc degeneration model.
Limitations
Single primary cell type and one chemically induced oxidative-stress stimulus; one rat degeneration model with unreported group sizes, short follow-up and no blinding of histological scoring stated.
Study record
| Study model | Animal study (in vivo) |
|---|---|
| Substance studied | MOTS-c administeredSynthetic MOTS-c was given to cells, animals or people. |
| Species | rat |
| System studied | Nucleus pulposus-derived mesenchymal stem cells under oxidative stress; rat intervertebral disc degeneration model with a MOTS-c-conjugated RADA16-I hydrogel |
| Population | Not reported |
| Design | Cell culture experiments with biomaterial characterisation and a controlled animal experiment |
| Sample size as reported | not reported |
| Control group | Untreated degeneration-model rats; untreated and oxidant-exposed cells |
| Route (data field only) | other |
| Endpoints measured | apoptosis and senescence of nucleus pulposus mesenchymal stem cells; reactive oxygen species; AMPK/SIRT1 pathway activity; cell viability and extracellular matrix (collagen II, aggrecan, collagen I); hydrogel nanostructure, rheology and peptide release; disc height index, T2-weighted MRI signal and histological degeneration score |
| Pathways measured | AMPK signalling · SIRT1 / PGC-1α / biogenesis · Oxidative stress · Apoptosis |
| Research areas | Bone · Aging · Mitochondrial biology · Methods |
| Evidence tier | C — Animal in vivo |
| Publication types | Journal Article |
Appraisal
Each dimension is recorded separately and never combined into a single score. A study can be well controlled and still tell you little about people.
- Relevance to MOTS-c
- Direct
- Model applicability
- Mammalian
- Sample size
- Not reported
- Controls
- Appropriate
- Outcome validity
- Surrogate
- Support for its own conclusion
- Moderate
Provenance
- Bibliographic fields retrieved from PubMed E-utilities efetch (title, journal, date, authors, DOI) on 2026-11-11.
- Annotated from the published abstract.
- Editorial review: approved (2026-11-11).
- Classification follows the site methodology; the record describes the study, not what MOTS-c does in people.