A novel link between chronic inflammation and humanin regulation in children.

Zhao Y, Mäkitie O, Laakso S, Fedosova V, Sävendahl L, Zaman F

Frontiers in endocrinology23 Jan 2024Cited by 4 (Europe PMC)

PMID38322155PMCIDPMC10844658DOI10.3389/fendo.2023.1142310PepBankPUB-38322155

Summary

ObjectiveChildren with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) often suffer from poor bone growth and impaired bone health. Humanin is a cytoprotective factor expressed in bone and other tissues and we hypothesized that humanin levels are suppressed in conditions of chronic inflammation. To address this, humanin levels were analyzed in serum samples from IBD patients and in ex vivo cultured human growth plate tissue specimens exposed to IBD serum or TNF alone.MethodsHumanin levels were measured by ELISA in serum from 40 children with IBD and 40 age-matched healthy controls. Growth plate specimens obtained from children undergoing epiphysiodesis surgery were cultured ex vivo for 48 hours while being exposed to IBD serum or TNF alone. The growth plate samples were then processed for immunohistochemistry staining for humanin, PCNA, SOX9 and TRAF2 expression. Dose-response effect of TNF was studied in the human chondrocytic cell line HCS-2/8. Ex vivo cultured fetal rat metatarsal bones were used to investigate the therapeutic effect of humanin.ResultsSerum humanin levels were significantly decreased in children with IBD compared to healthy controls. When human growth plate specimens were cultured with IBD serum, humanin expression was significantly suppressed in the growth plate cartilage. When cultured with TNF alone, the expression of humanin, PCNA, SOX9, and TRAF2 were all significantly decreased in the growth plate cartilage. Interestingly, treatment with the humanin analog HNG prevented TNF-induced bone growth impairment in cultured metatarsal bones.ConclusionOur data showing suppressed serum humanin levels in IBD children with poor bone health provides the first evidence for a potential link between chronic inflammation and humanin regulation. Such a link is further supported by the novel finding that serum from IBD patients suppressed humanin expression in ex vivo cultured human growth plates.

CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study4

No result from this study comes from a test of the peptide.

Natural levels measured3

These results measure the body's own peptide. Nobody was given the peptide. They are not evidence about taking it. They are left out of key results, evidence counts and charts.

01HumanEndogenous levelObservational studyOther
Serum humanin levels were lower in children with inflammatory bowel disease than in healthy controls.
In plain wordsChildren with inflammatory bowel disease had lower levels of the body's own humanin than healthy children.
Peptide
Humanin
Outcome
DecreaseSerum humanin in children with IBD
Study
n = 80
Comparator
Healthy controls
Outcome group
Aging markers · Immune and inflammation
Source sentences
Summary
Serum humanin levels were significantly decreased in children with IBD compared to healthy controls.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Humanin levels were measured by ELISA in serum from 40 children with IBD and 40 age-matched healthy controls.
This result measures the body's own Humanin. Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3832215501
02LabEndogenous levelEx vivo tissueMechanism
In cultured human growth plate cartilage, IBD serum suppressed humanin expression.
In plain wordsIn lab-cultured growth plate tissue, IBD serum lowered the tissue's own humanin.
Peptide
Humanin
Outcome
DecreaseHumanin expression in growth plate cartilage exposed to IBD serum
Study
humann: not reported in source
Ex vivo cultured human growth plate
Outcome group
Bone and joint · Musculoskeletal
Source sentences
Summary
When human growth plate specimens were cultured with IBD serum, humanin expression was significantly suppressed in the growth plate cartilage.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Growth plate specimens obtained from children undergoing epiphysiodesis surgery were cultured ex vivo for 48 hours while being exposed to IBD serum or TNF alone.
This result measures the body's own Humanin. Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3832215502
03LabEndogenous levelEx vivo tissueMechanism
In cultured human growth plate cartilage, TNF alone decreased humanin expression.
In plain wordsIn lab-cultured growth plate tissue, TNF lowered the tissue's own humanin.
Peptide
Humanin
Outcome
DecreaseHumanin expression in growth plate cartilage exposed to TNF
Study
humann: not reported in source
Ex vivo cultured human growth plate
Outcome group
Bone and joint · Musculoskeletal
Source sentences
Summary
When cultured with TNF alone, the expression of humanin, PCNA, SOX9, and TRAF2 were all significantly decreased in the growth plate cartilage.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Growth plate specimens obtained from children undergoing epiphysiodesis surgery were cultured ex vivo for 48 hours while being exposed to IBD serum or TNF alone.
This result measures the body's own Humanin. Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3832215503

Studies that did not test the peptide alone1

In this study, Humanin was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. These results are not evidence about taking Humanin.

04LabNot a test of Humanin aloneEx vivo tissueEfficacy outcome
In cultured fetal rat metatarsal bones, the humanin analog HNG prevented TNF-induced bone growth impairment.
In plain wordsIn lab-cultured rat bones, a humanin analog prevented the bone growth problems caused by TNF.
Peptide
Humanin
Outcome
DecreaseTNF-induced bone growth impairment with HNG
Study
ratn: not reported in source
Ex vivo cultured fetal rat metatarsal bones
Comparator
TNF without HNG
Outcome group
Bone and joint · Musculoskeletal
Source sentences
Summary
Interestingly, treatment with the humanin analog HNG prevented TNF-induced bone growth impairment in cultured metatarsal bones.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Ex vivo cultured fetal rat metatarsal bones were used to investigate the therapeutic effect of humanin.
In this study, Humanin was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Humanin.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3832215504

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
13 Oct 2026, 21:44 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
13 Oct 2026, 16:31 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

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