Repeated Humanin Treatment Attenuates Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Apoptosis in Diabetic Cardiac Tissue.

Bulut F, Adam M, Hekim MG, Ozcan M

Biology3 Jul 2026

PMID42450608PMCIDPMC13359586DOI10.3390/biology15131060PepBankPUB-42450608

Summary

Diabetes mellitus (DM) markedly increases the risk of cardiovascular complications through mechanisms involving hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. Humanin (HN), a mitochondria-derived peptide with established cytoprotective properties, has been reported to exert antioxidant and anti-apoptotic effects in several experimental models. However, its role in diabetic cardiac injury remains insufficiently understood. The present study investigated the protective effects of repeated HN treatment against diabetes-induced cardiac injury in a streptozotocin (STZ)-induced mouse model. Mice were divided into four groups: control, HN-treated, STZ-induced diabetic, and STZ + HN-treated groups (n = 10/group). HN (4 mg/kg) was administered daily for 15 consecutive days. Biochemical analyses were performed to evaluate oxidative stress, inflammatory cytokines, and apoptotic markers. STZ-induced diabetes significantly increased oxidative stress markers, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and apoptotic activity while reducing antioxidant defenses and anti-inflammatory cytokines compared with controls. Repeated HN treatment markedly attenuated these alterations and restored redox and inflammatory balance in diabetic cardiac tissue. These findings demonstrate that repeated HN treatment attenuates oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in the hearts of diabetic mice. The results further suggest that HN may represent a promising therapeutic candidate for limiting diabetes-associated cardiac complications.

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)Efficacy outcome
In diabetic mice, repeated HN treatment attenuated the rise in oxidative stress markers in cardiac tissue.
In plain wordsIn diabetic mice, repeated humanin treatment reduced signs of oxidative stress in heart tissue.
Peptide
Humanin
Outcome
DecreaseCardiac oxidative stress markers
Study
mousen = 20
Streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice
Comparator
Untreated STZ-induced diabetic mice
Outcome group
Oxidative stress · Cardiovascular
Studied dose
4 mg/kg · 15 consecutive daysAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
repeated HN treatment attenuates oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in the hearts of diabetic mice.
3 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Repeated HN treatment markedly attenuated these alterations and restored redox and inflammatory balance in diabetic cardiac tissue.
Summary · context
STZ-induced diabetes significantly increased oxidative stress markers, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and apoptotic activity while reducing antioxidant defenses and anti-inflammatory cytokines compared with controls.
Summary · context
Mice were divided into four groups: control, HN-treated, STZ-induced diabetic, and STZ + HN-treated groups (n = 10/group).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4245060801
02AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In diabetic mice, repeated HN treatment attenuated the rise in pro-inflammatory cytokines in cardiac tissue.
In plain wordsIn diabetic mice, repeated humanin treatment reduced inflammation signals in heart tissue.
Peptide
Humanin
Outcome
DecreaseCardiac pro-inflammatory cytokines
Study
mousen = 20
Streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice
Comparator
Untreated STZ-induced diabetic mice
Outcome group
Inflammation markers · Cardiovascular
Studied dose
4 mg/kg · 15 consecutive daysAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
repeated HN treatment attenuates oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in the hearts of diabetic mice.
3 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Repeated HN treatment markedly attenuated these alterations and restored redox and inflammatory balance in diabetic cardiac tissue.
Summary · context
STZ-induced diabetes significantly increased oxidative stress markers, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and apoptotic activity while reducing antioxidant defenses and anti-inflammatory cytokines compared with controls.
Summary · context
Mice were divided into four groups: control, HN-treated, STZ-induced diabetic, and STZ + HN-treated groups (n = 10/group).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4245060802
03AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In diabetic mice, repeated HN treatment attenuated the rise in apoptotic activity in cardiac tissue.
In plain wordsIn diabetic mice, repeated humanin treatment reduced signs of cell death in heart tissue.
Peptide
Humanin
Outcome
DecreaseCardiac apoptotic markers
Study
mousen = 20
Streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice
Comparator
Untreated STZ-induced diabetic mice
Outcome group
Oxidative stress · Cardiovascular
Studied dose
4 mg/kg · 15 consecutive daysAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
repeated HN treatment attenuates oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in the hearts of diabetic mice.
3 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Repeated HN treatment markedly attenuated these alterations and restored redox and inflammatory balance in diabetic cardiac tissue.
Summary · context
STZ-induced diabetes significantly increased oxidative stress markers, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and apoptotic activity while reducing antioxidant defenses and anti-inflammatory cytokines compared with controls.
Summary · context
Mice were divided into four groups: control, HN-treated, STZ-induced diabetic, and STZ + HN-treated groups (n = 10/group).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4245060803
04AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In diabetic mice, repeated HN treatment restored redox balance, which diabetes had disturbed by reducing antioxidant defenses.
In plain wordsIn diabetic mice, repeated humanin treatment restored antioxidant balance in heart tissue.
Peptide
Humanin
Outcome
IncreaseCardiac antioxidant defenses
Study
mousen = 20
Streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice
Comparator
Untreated STZ-induced diabetic mice
Outcome group
Oxidative stress · Cardiovascular
Studied dose
4 mg/kg · 15 consecutive daysAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
Repeated HN treatment markedly attenuated these alterations and restored redox and inflammatory balance in diabetic cardiac tissue.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
STZ-induced diabetes significantly increased oxidative stress markers, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and apoptotic activity while reducing antioxidant defenses and anti-inflammatory cytokines compared with controls.
Summary · context
Mice were divided into four groups: control, HN-treated, STZ-induced diabetic, and STZ + HN-treated groups (n = 10/group).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4245060804
05AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In diabetic mice, repeated HN treatment restored inflammatory balance, which diabetes had disturbed by reducing anti-inflammatory cytokines.
In plain wordsIn diabetic mice, repeated humanin treatment restored the balance of inflammation signals in heart tissue.
Peptide
Humanin
Outcome
IncreaseCardiac anti-inflammatory cytokines
Study
mousen = 20
Streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice
Comparator
Untreated STZ-induced diabetic mice
Outcome group
Inflammation markers · Cardiovascular
Studied dose
4 mg/kg · 15 consecutive daysAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
Repeated HN treatment markedly attenuated these alterations and restored redox and inflammatory balance in diabetic cardiac tissue.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
STZ-induced diabetes significantly increased oxidative stress markers, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and apoptotic activity while reducing antioxidant defenses and anti-inflammatory cytokines compared with controls.
Summary · context
Mice were divided into four groups: control, HN-treated, STZ-induced diabetic, and STZ + HN-treated groups (n = 10/group).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4245060805

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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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