Study record
Mitochondrial-derived microproteins in cancer and neurodegeneration: A new era of cross-disease mechanistic insights
Hu S, Hu C, Tong M · Pathol Res Pract · 2026
What this study reported
Reviewed reported signalling pathways of mitochondrial-derived microproteins, including the MOTS-c-AMPK/NRF2-LARS1/mTORC1 axis, alongside humanin, SHLPs and SHMOOSE. Summarised how these pathways have been linked to apoptosis, nutrient sensing, redox balance and mito-nuclear communication in cancer and neurodegeneration literature. Described methodological advances such as mitoribosome profiling, proteogenomics and mitochondrial base editing.
Limitations
Narrative review with no stated search strategy or appraisal of source study quality, covering MOTS-c as one of several microproteins, and much of the synthesised evidence comes from cell and animal work.
Study record
| Study model | Review |
|---|---|
| Substance studied | SeveralMore than one of these is central to the paper (common for reviews). |
| Species | Not reported |
| System studied | Published literature on mitochondrial-derived microproteins in cancer and neurodegeneration |
| Population | Not reported |
| Design | Narrative review |
| Sample size as reported | Not reported |
| Control group | Not reported |
| Route (data field only) | Not reported |
| Endpoints measured | reported signalling architectures of humanin, MOTS-c, SHLPs and SHMOOSE; MOTS-c-AMPK/NRF2-LARS1/mTORC1 signalling; disease-specific outcomes in cancer and neurodegeneration; discovery methods for mitochondrial-derived microproteins |
| Pathways measured | AMPK signalling · NRF2 / antioxidant response · AKT / mTOR / FOXO · Apoptosis · Oxidative stress |
| Research areas | Cancer · Nervous system · Mitochondrial biology |
| Evidence tier | R — Review (context, not evidence) |
| Publication types | Journal Article, Review |
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
- Indirect
- Model applicability
- n/a
- Sample size
- n/a
- Controls
- n/a
- Outcome validity
- n/a
- Support for its own conclusion
- Weak
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.