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Humanin research

What published studies found for Humanin: 11 papers, 1 in humans, with sample sizes and key results.

C
Mostly animal studies
Why: Many mouse and rat studies (Alzheimer's, stroke, diabetes, aging) with mostly protective effects, one showing faster tumour growth; no human trials.

Humanin and its potent analogue HNG have protective effects in mouse and cell models of Alzheimer's disease, stroke, diabetes and aging, but no human treatment trials have been published. One mouse study found humanin accelerated breast-cancer growth and blunted chemotherapy.

✓ 5 positive✗ 1 negative~ 3 mixed? 2 inconclusive

No human safety data in the published literature; a mouse study raised a concern about promoting tumour growth.

US compounding: Not compoundable. Not an FDA-approved drug and not nominated for FDA's 503A bulks list, so US pharmacies can't legally compound it. Status for every peptide.

Browse and filter these papersHumanin prices and vendors

Meta-analyses & systematic reviews

? Inconclusivesystematic reviewBiology (Basel) · 2023

Humanin and Its Pathophysiological Roles in Aging: A Systematic Review.

Number of included studies not stated in abstractSystematic review

Systematic review of humanin in aging: possible roles in cardiovascular disease, neurodegeneration and cancer, with mechanisms not yet clarified and further research needed.

Authors' conclusion
Humanin appears to be cytoprotective and to contrast age-related conditions such as cardiovascular disease, neurodegeneration and cancer, but the mechanisms are not fully clarified and further research is needed.
Limitations
Mechanisms not clarified; abstract gives no study counts.
PubMed 37106758DOIFree full text
Figure 1: Humanin molecule, whose sequence is: Met-Ala-Pro-Arg-Gly-Phe-Ser-Cys-Leu-Leu-Leu-Leu-Thr-Ser-Glu-Ile-Asp-Leu-Pro-Val-Lys-Arg-Arg-Ala [36].
Figure 1. From PMC10135985, CC BY (terms); resized.

Reviews

? InconclusivereviewWorld J Diabetes · 2022

Humanin and diabetes mellitus: A review of in vitro and in vivo studies.

No new dataNarrative review of in vitro and in vivo studies

Review of in vitro and animal studies suggesting humanin may improve insulin sensitivity and protect beta cells; no clinical trials cited.

Authors' conclusion
It has been suggested that HN increases insulin sensitivity, improves survival of pancreatic beta cells and delays diabetes onset; the review discusses its emerging role as a therapeutic option.
Limitations
Narrative review of preclinical studies; no original data.
PubMed 35432758DOIFree full text

Animal & lab studies

~ MixedanimalExp Physiol · 2026

S14G-humanin attenuates renal ischaemia-reperfusion injury, potentially through activation of STAT3 and ERK1/2 signalling pathways in rats.

n = 48 animalsFour-group animal study (Sham, I/R, HNG-Sham, HNG-I/R)24 h reperfusion

In 48 rats with renal ischemia-reperfusion, S14G-humanin restored antioxidant levels, ATP and mitochondrial complex I activity and reduced apoptosis, but did not change blood urea nitrogen or serum creatinine.

Key resultBUN and creatinine were unaffected by HNG; glutathione, SOD, ATP and complex I activity were significantly restored and apoptotic cells reduced vs I/R
Studied
Male Sprague-Dawley rats with 45 min renal artery ligation and 24 h reperfusion
Compared with
Untreated I/R rats
Main outcome
Kidney function markers, oxidative stress, ATP, apoptosis, STAT3/ERK1/2 signalling
Sample
48 male Sprague-Dawley rats in four groups
Authors' conclusion
The authors suggest S14G-humanin attenuates renal I/R injury, potentially via STAT3 and ERK1/2 activation.
Limitations
Rat model; standard kidney function markers (BUN, creatinine) did not improve.
PubMed 42672739DOIFree full text
✓ PositiveanimalAging (Albany NY) · 2020

The mitochondrial derived peptide humanin is a regulator of lifespan and healthspan.

Humans and animalsCombined worm lifespan, mouse treatment (HNG twice weekly) and human circulating-level comparisons

Humanin extended lifespan in worms, and HNG treatment improved metabolic healthspan markers and lowered inflammation in middle-aged mice; centenarians' children had higher circulating humanin (observational).

Studied
C. elegans, humanin transgenic and middle-aged mice, naked mole-rats, and humans (children of centenarians; Alzheimer's disease and MELAS patients)
Compared with
Age-matched control subjects (human levels)
Main outcome
Lifespan, metabolic healthspan parameters, inflammatory markers, circulating humanin levels
Authors' conclusion
Humanin overexpression increased lifespan in C. elegans (daf-16/Foxo dependent), HNG improved metabolic healthspan parameters and reduced inflammatory markers in mice, and humanin levels were higher in children of centenarians; the authors say humanin is linked to improved healthspan and lifespan.
Limitations
Mostly animal data; human findings are observational circulating-level comparisons.
PubMed 32575074DOIFree full text
Figure 1: Humanin overexpression is sufficient to increase lifespan in C. elegans. HN overexpression significantly increased lifespan in worms (averag
Figure 1. From PMC7343442, CC BY (terms); resized.
✓ PositiveanimalJ Neurosci Res · 2005

A humanin derivative, S14G-HN, prevents amyloid-beta-induced memory impairment in mice.

AnimalsIntracerebroventricular S14G-HN vs S14A-HN (neuroprotection-defective mutant)

Brain-injected S14G-humanin prevented amyloid-beta-induced memory impairment in mice.

Key resultAt least 50 pmol S14G-HN (i.c.v.) prevented Abeta-induced impairment of Y-maze working memory; 5 nmol S14A-HN did not
Studied
Mice with Abeta25-35-induced amnesia
Compared with
S14A-HN mutant (5 nmol) and Abeta-amnesic controls
Main outcome
Y-maze short-term/spatial working memory, water-finding latent learning, cholinergic neuron counts
Authors' conclusion
S14G-HN has rescue activity against memory impairment caused by AD-related insults in vivo, apparently via the same intracellular neuroprotective machinery as seen in vitro.
Limitations
Mouse study using direct brain injection.
PubMed 15678515DOI
✓ PositiveanimalBrain Res · 2008

Neuroprotective effect of humanin on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury is mediated by a PI3K/Akt pathway.

Humans and animalsHNG with PI3K/Akt inhibitors (wortmannin, Akti-1/2); intraventricular HNG before MCAOCell viability assessed 24 h after reperfusion

HNG injected into the brain reduced infarct volume after experimental stroke in mice via PI3K/Akt signalling.

Studied
Cultured mouse primary cortical neurons (oxygen-glucose deprivation) and mice with middle cerebral artery occlusion
Compared with
Untreated and inhibitor-treated
Main outcome
Cell viability, Akt phosphorylation, infarct volume
Authors' conclusion
HNG increased neuronal viability after OGD and decreased infarct volume after MCAO; PI3K/Akt activation appears to mediate HNG's protection against hypoxia/ischemia-reperfusion injury.
Limitations
Cell and mouse study; HNG injected into the brain; no numbers in abstract.
PubMed 18590709DOIFree full text
✓ PositiveanimalBioengineered · 2021

The protective effects of S14G-humanin (HNG) against streptozotocin (STZ)-induced cardiac dysfunction.

AnimalsHNG treatment vs untreated diabetic mice

In diabetic mice, HNG reduced cardiac hypertrophy and inflammation and improved heart function.

Studied
Streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice
Compared with
Untreated STZ diabetic mice
Main outcome
Myocardial hypertrophy, echocardiographic heart function, plasma and cardiac TNF-alpha and IL-6, CK-MB, AST, LDH, p38/NF-kB
Authors' conclusion
HNG attenuated STZ-induced myocardial hypertrophy, improved heart function and reduced injury markers and inflammatory cytokines, apparently by inhibiting the p38/NF-kB pathway.
Limitations
Mouse study; no numbers in abstract.
PubMed 34506248DOIFree full text
Figure 3.: Protective effects of S14G-humanin on heart function. The mice heart function was measured by Echo. (a) Fractional shortening;(b) Ejection F
Figure 3.. From PMC8806847, CC BY (terms); resized.
✗ NegativeanimalSci Rep · 2020

Humanin Promotes Tumor Progression in Experimental Triple Negative Breast Cancer.

Humans and animalsTranscriptomic meta-analysis, immunohistochemistry, HN addition/shRNA silencing in cells, systemic HN in tumour-bearing mice

Safety signal: in mice with triple-negative breast cancer, humanin accelerated tumour growth and lung metastasis and weakened chemotherapy's effect.

Studied
Human TNBC biopsies and cell lines; TNBC-bearing mice
Compared with
Untreated / chemotherapy
Main outcome
Tumour apoptosis, chemotherapy effect, tumour growth and spontaneous lung metastases
Authors' conclusion
HN may exert pro-tumoral effects, so caution is needed when using exogenous HN for degenerative diseases; HN blockade could improve chemotherapy efficacy in breast cancer.
Limitations
Experimental (cells and mice); no numbers in abstract.
PubMed 32444831DOIFree full text
Figure 4: Effect of HN on the progression and chemosensitivity of experimental TNBC. BALB/c mice were s.c. inoculated with 3 × 105 murine TNBC 4T1 cel
Figure 4. From PMC7244539, CC BY (terms); resized.
✓ PositiveanimalAm J Respir Cell Mol Biol · 2026

Humanin-G protects septic ARDS by mediating mitochondrial function in lung vascular endothelial cells.

Humans and animalsMouse model plus in vitro studies and a patient serum observationPatient serum followed day 1 to day 7

In mice with LPS-induced septic ARDS, Humanin-G reduced inflammation and lung injury and restored mitochondrial function in lung endothelial cells; in septic ARDS patients, serum humanin rose on day 1 then fell through day 7.

Studied
Septic ARDS patients (serum humanin measured), LPS-treated mice and endothelial cells
Compared with
Untreated septic mice/cells
Main outcome
Inflammatory markers, lung injury, mitochondrial function
Authors' conclusion
The authors concluded HNG confers protective effects on septic lung endothelium, possibly via competition with IL-6 receptor signalling and STAT3 suppression.
Limitations
Treatment evidence is from mice and cells; the human data are only serum measurements.
PubMed 42153337DOI
~ MixedanimalSci Rep · 2026

Neuroprotective effect of intraperitoneal Humanin-G in retinal degeneration of Royal College of Surgeons rats.

AnimalsSham-controlled animal study with low-dose and high-dose HNG1 or 4 weeks

In retinal-degeneration rats, high-dose Humanin-G for 4 weeks altered retinal gene expression and improved visual acuity on optokinetic testing, but electroretinography showed no difference from sham.

Key resultVisual acuity improved significantly with high-dose HNG; ERG showed no difference vs sham at 4 weeks
Studied
Royal College of Surgeons rats with retinal pigment epithelium dysfunction and retinal degeneration
Compared with
Sham saline injection
Main outcome
Electroretinography, optokinetic visual acuity, retinal gene expression
Authors' conclusion
The authors suggest HNG can modulate gene expression and improve vision, and warrant further studies as a potential treatment.
Limitations
Rat model; mixed functional results (ERG unchanged).
PubMed 42471450DOI
~ Mixedin vitroPhysiol Rep · 2026

Mitochondrial-derived peptides MOTS-c and humanin attenuate dexamethasone-induced atrophy in human skeletal muscle cells.

Cells / labIn vitro co-treatment with MOTS-c or S14G-humanin

In primary human myotubes exposed to dexamethasone, S14G-humanin preserved myotube size (p<0.001) but not differentiation (fusion index) or E3 ligase expression; MOTS-c did better on every measure.

Key resultMOTS-c preserved myotube area (p<0.001) and fusion index (p=0.02) and blunted MURF1 upregulation (p=0.03) and STAT3 activation (p=0.005) vs dexamethasone alone
Studied
Primary human skeletal myotubes exposed to dexamethasone
Compared with
Dexamethasone alone
Main outcome
Myotube area, fusion index, MURF1/MAFbx, Akt and STAT3 signalling
Authors' conclusion
The authors suggest MOTS-c could be an effective inhibitor of glucocorticoid-induced atrophy in human muscle via selective MURF1 inhibition, enhanced Akt signalling and suppressed STAT3.
Limitations
Cultured cells at a high concentration; no in vivo or human administration.
PubMed 41732124DOIFree full text
FIGURE 1: MOTS‐c and HNG mitigate dexamethasone‐induced myotube atrophy. Primary human skeletal muscle myotubes were treated with vehicle (Control), 1
FIGURE 1. From PMC12930096, CC BY (terms); resized.

Verdicts are judged on each paper's own main outcome; grades run from A (strong human evidence) to D (little or none). Details are read from the abstracts, and figures are reproduced only from openly licensed full texts. Not medical advice.