Study record
Mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c activates metabolic signaling but blunts reparative function in human mesenchymal stromal cells
Xing L, Lu B, Zhu X et al. · Inflamm Regen · 2026
What this study reported
Measured lower basal MOTS-c expression in mesenchymal stromal cells from donors with obesity, and reported that MOTS-c co-incubation restored intracellular levels and activated AMPK but reduced proliferation and increased p16, p21 and TNF-alpha expression. Reported that MOTS-c-pretreated cells failed to improve renal perfusion, fibrosis or tubular injury in mice with renal artery stenosis, and that pretreatment also blunted the effect of lean-donor cells.
Limitations
Small donor numbers per group; a single cell type and one murine renal stenosis model; effects assessed after in-culture exposure rather than systemic administration.
Study record
| Study model | Cell study (in vitro) |
|---|---|
| Substance studied | SeveralMore than one of these is central to the paper (common for reviews). |
| Species | human, mouse |
| System studied | Adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells from donors with obesity and lean donors; MOTS-c-pretreated cells delivered to stenotic mouse kidneys |
| Population | Not reported |
| Design | Cell culture experiments with a controlled animal model |
| Sample size as reported | 6 donors per group |
| Control group | untreated obese and lean donor cells; untreated stenotic kidney animals |
| Route (data field only) | in-culture |
| Endpoints measured | MSC proliferation; senescence gene expression (p16, p21); TNF-alpha and antioxidant gene expression; AMPK signalling; renal perfusion, fibrosis and tubular injury |
| Pathways measured | AMPK signalling · Inflammation · Oxidative stress |
| Research areas | Kidney · Metabolic · Aging · Mitochondrial biology |
| Evidence tier | D — Cell, tissue or analytical |
| 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
- Small
- 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.