Humanin Mitigates Aβ-Induced Retinal Pigment Epithelium Injury via AMPK-Beclin1-Dependent Mitophagy.

Jang HY, Choi S, Kim SJ, Kim S, Jo DH, Lee TG, Park KS, Kim JH

Aging cell1 Jul 2026

PMID42333946PMCIDPMC13288060DOI10.1111/acel.70601PepBankPUB-42333946

Summary

Amyloid beta (Aβ), a key component of drusen in age-related macular degeneration (AMD), induces oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and degeneration in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), contributing to progressive vision loss in the elderly. We investigated the protective role of Humanin (HN), a mitochondria-derived peptide with known neuroprotective effects in Aβ-related neurodegenerative diseases, in retinal pathology induced by subretinal injection of FITC-labeled Aβ. HN enhanced the clearance of Aβ-accumulated mitochondria in the RPE while preserving retinal function and RPE barrier integrity. In ARPE-19 cells, HN activated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), leading to phosphorylation of ULK1 and Beclin1, which promoted the interaction between Beclin1 and Parkin and their translocation to mitochondria. This process facilitated the removal of Aβ-accumulated mitochondria in the RPE. Our results demonstrate that targeting mitophagy in the RPE with HN may offer a promising therapeutic strategy for AMD.

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

Results from this study5

5 results from studies that gave the peptide. No result from this study comes from people.

01AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In a retinal model of amyloid beta injury, HN enhanced the clearance of amyloid beta-accumulated mitochondria in the retinal pigment epithelium.
In plain wordsIn an animal model of retinal injury, humanin helped clear damaged mitochondria from retinal pigment epithelium cells.
Peptide
Humanin
Outcome
IncreaseClearance of amyloid beta-accumulated mitochondria in RPE
Study
n: not reported in source
Retina injured by subretinal injection of FITC-labeled amyloid beta
Outcome group
Mitochondrial function · Eye
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
HN enhanced the clearance of Aβ-accumulated mitochondria in the RPE while preserving retinal function and RPE barrier integrity.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We investigated the protective role of Humanin (HN), a mitochondria-derived peptide with known neuroprotective effects in Aβ-related neurodegenerative diseases, in retinal pathology induced by subretinal injection of FITC-labeled Aβ.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4233394601
02AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In a retinal model of amyloid beta injury, HN preserved retinal function.
In plain wordsIn an animal model of retinal injury, humanin kept retinal function from declining.
Peptide
Humanin
Outcome
IncreaseRetinal function
Study
n: not reported in source
Retina injured by subretinal injection of FITC-labeled amyloid beta
Outcome group
Neuroprotection · Eye
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
preserving retinal function and RPE barrier integrity.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We investigated the protective role of Humanin (HN), a mitochondria-derived peptide with known neuroprotective effects in Aβ-related neurodegenerative diseases, in retinal pathology induced by subretinal injection of FITC-labeled Aβ.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4233394602
03AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In a retinal model of amyloid beta injury, HN preserved RPE barrier integrity.
In plain wordsIn an animal model of retinal injury, humanin kept the retinal pigment epithelium barrier intact.
Peptide
Humanin
Outcome
IncreaseRPE barrier integrity
Study
n: not reported in source
Retina injured by subretinal injection of FITC-labeled amyloid beta
Outcome group
Neuroprotection · Eye
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
RPE barrier integrity.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We investigated the protective role of Humanin (HN), a mitochondria-derived peptide with known neuroprotective effects in Aβ-related neurodegenerative diseases, in retinal pathology induced by subretinal injection of FITC-labeled Aβ.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4233394603
04LabIn vitro (cells)Mechanism
In ARPE-19 cells, HN activated AMPK, leading to phosphorylation of ULK1 and Beclin1.
In plain wordsIn cells, humanin switched on AMPK, which led to chemical activation of ULK1 and Beclin1.
Peptide
Humanin
Outcome
IncreaseAMPK activation and ULK1/Beclin1 phosphorylation
Study
n: not reported in source
ARPE-19 cells
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Eye
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
HN activated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), leading to phosphorylation of ULK1 and Beclin1
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4233394604
05LabIn vitro (cells)Mechanism
In ARPE-19 cells, HN promoted the interaction between Beclin1 and Parkin and their translocation to mitochondria.
In plain wordsIn cells, humanin increased the contact between Beclin1 and Parkin and moved them to mitochondria.
Peptide
Humanin
Outcome
IncreaseBeclin1-Parkin interaction and mitochondrial translocation
Study
n: not reported in source
ARPE-19 cells
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Eye
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
which promoted the interaction between Beclin1 and Parkin and their translocation to mitochondria.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4233394605

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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Terms as the source lists them.

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