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Study · Animal study (in vivo) · mouse · 2026

16 results

Humanin Attenuates Inflammatory Liver Injury and NF-κB Activation During Systemic Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae Infection.

Zhong Y, Haishaer D, Cai W, Lin L, Guo Z, Pan Y, Tang X, You W, Fu Y, Ou Q

Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)10 Sept 2026

PMID42796734 (opens in a new tab)PMCIDPMC13610375 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.3390/pathogens15090966 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-42796734
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Summary

Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKP) causes invasive infections, including bloodstream infections and liver abscesses, and dysregulated host inflammation may exacerbate liver injury. We investigated whether pretreatment with Humanin, a mitochondria-derived anti-inflammatory peptide, could attenuate hvKP-associated liver injury. We measured serum Humanin in 20 patients with hvKP-associated bloodstream infection and liver abscess and 20 matched healthy controls. C57BL/6 mice received intraperitoneal Humanin (2.5 or 5 mg/kg/day) for five days before intravenous hvKP challenge. We assessed liver injury, inflammatory responses, hepatic transcriptomes, NF-κB activation, and survival. Serum Humanin was higher in patients than in the controls (p < 0.001). In infected mice, Humanin pretreatment was associated with less prominent histopathological liver injury and lower serum ALT, AST, and PCT, hepatic myeloperoxidase activity, F4/80 immunoreactivity, CD86 fluorescence, and pro-inflammatory gene expression. The effects were generally greater at 5 mg/kg than at 2.5 mg/kg. Transcriptomic analysis showed attenuation of inflammatory pathways, including NF-κB signaling (NES = -1.86, p = 0.002, FDR = 0.012). Humanin also reduced p-p65/p65 and p-IκBα/IκBα ratios in liver tissue and hvKP-stimulated bone-marrow-derived macrophages; 5 mg/kg prolonged survival (p < 0.05). Humanin pretreatment may therefore limit inflammatory liver injury during systemic hvKP infection. This effect was associated with reduced macrophage-associated inflammation and NF-κB activation, although its molecular targets remain unknown.
CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study16

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

  1. 01AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome

    In mice infected with hypervirulent K. pneumoniae, Humanin pretreatment was associated with less prominent histopathological liver injury.

    In plain wordsIn mice with a serious Klebsiella infection, humanin given beforehand was linked to less liver tissue damage.

    Peptide
    Humanin
    Outcome
    DecreaseHistopathological liver injury
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    C57BL/6 mice with intravenous hvKP challenge
    Outcome group
    Liver fat and liver function · Liver
    Studied dose
    2.5 or 5 mg/kg/day · intraperitoneal · 5 days before hvKP challengeAs given in this study (mouse).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Humanin pretreatment was associated with less prominent histopathological liver injury
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    C57BL/6 mice received intraperitoneal Humanin (2.5 or 5 mg/kg/day) for five days before intravenous hvKP challenge.
  2. 02AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome

    In mice infected with hypervirulent K. pneumoniae, Humanin pretreatment was associated with lower serum ALT.

    In plain wordsIn mice with a serious Klebsiella infection, humanin given beforehand was linked to a lower liver enzyme, ALT, in blood.

    Peptide
    Humanin
    Outcome
    DecreaseSerum ALT
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    C57BL/6 mice with intravenous hvKP challenge
    Outcome group
    Liver fat and liver function · Liver
    Studied dose
    2.5 or 5 mg/kg/day · intraperitoneal · 5 days before hvKP challengeAs given in this study (mouse).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    In infected mice, Humanin pretreatment was associated with less prominent histopathological liver injury and lower serum ALT, AST, and PCT, hepatic myeloperoxidase activity, F4/80 immunoreactivity, CD86 fluorescence, and pro-inflammatory gene expression.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    C57BL/6 mice received intraperitoneal Humanin (2.5 or 5 mg/kg/day) for five days before intravenous hvKP challenge.
  3. 03AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome

    In mice infected with hypervirulent K. pneumoniae, Humanin pretreatment was associated with lower serum AST.

    In plain wordsIn mice with a serious Klebsiella infection, humanin given beforehand was linked to a lower liver enzyme, AST, in blood.

    Peptide
    Humanin
    Outcome
    DecreaseSerum AST
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    C57BL/6 mice with intravenous hvKP challenge
    Outcome group
    Liver fat and liver function · Liver
    Studied dose
    2.5 or 5 mg/kg/day · intraperitoneal · 5 days before hvKP challengeAs given in this study (mouse).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    In infected mice, Humanin pretreatment was associated with less prominent histopathological liver injury and lower serum ALT, AST, and PCT, hepatic myeloperoxidase activity, F4/80 immunoreactivity, CD86 fluorescence, and pro-inflammatory gene expression.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    C57BL/6 mice received intraperitoneal Humanin (2.5 or 5 mg/kg/day) for five days before intravenous hvKP challenge.
  4. 04AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome

    In mice infected with hypervirulent K. pneumoniae, Humanin pretreatment was associated with lower serum PCT.

    In plain wordsIn mice with a serious Klebsiella infection, humanin given beforehand was linked to a lower infection marker, PCT, in blood.

    Peptide
    Humanin
    Outcome
    DecreaseSerum procalcitonin (PCT)
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    C57BL/6 mice with intravenous hvKP challenge
    Outcome group
    Inflammation markers · Liver
    Studied dose
    2.5 or 5 mg/kg/day · intraperitoneal · 5 days before hvKP challengeAs given in this study (mouse).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    In infected mice, Humanin pretreatment was associated with less prominent histopathological liver injury and lower serum ALT, AST, and PCT, hepatic myeloperoxidase activity, F4/80 immunoreactivity, CD86 fluorescence, and pro-inflammatory gene expression.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    C57BL/6 mice received intraperitoneal Humanin (2.5 or 5 mg/kg/day) for five days before intravenous hvKP challenge.
  5. 05AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome

    In mice infected with hypervirulent K. pneumoniae, Humanin pretreatment was associated with lower hepatic myeloperoxidase activity.

    In plain wordsIn mice with a serious Klebsiella infection, humanin given beforehand was linked to lower myeloperoxidase activity in the liver.

    Peptide
    Humanin
    Outcome
    DecreaseHepatic myeloperoxidase activity
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    C57BL/6 mice with intravenous hvKP challenge
    Outcome group
    Inflammation markers · Liver
    Studied dose
    2.5 or 5 mg/kg/day · intraperitoneal · 5 days before hvKP challengeAs given in this study (mouse).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    In infected mice, Humanin pretreatment was associated with less prominent histopathological liver injury and lower serum ALT, AST, and PCT, hepatic myeloperoxidase activity, F4/80 immunoreactivity, CD86 fluorescence, and pro-inflammatory gene expression.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    C57BL/6 mice received intraperitoneal Humanin (2.5 or 5 mg/kg/day) for five days before intravenous hvKP challenge.
  6. 06AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome

    In mice infected with hypervirulent K. pneumoniae, Humanin pretreatment was associated with lower F4/80 immunoreactivity.

    In plain wordsIn mice with a serious Klebsiella infection, humanin given beforehand was linked to fewer macrophage markers in the liver.

    Peptide
    Humanin
    Outcome
    DecreaseF4/80 immunoreactivity
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    C57BL/6 mice with intravenous hvKP challenge
    Outcome group
    Inflammation markers · Liver
    Studied dose
    2.5 or 5 mg/kg/day · intraperitoneal · 5 days before hvKP challengeAs given in this study (mouse).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    In infected mice, Humanin pretreatment was associated with less prominent histopathological liver injury and lower serum ALT, AST, and PCT, hepatic myeloperoxidase activity, F4/80 immunoreactivity, CD86 fluorescence, and pro-inflammatory gene expression.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    C57BL/6 mice received intraperitoneal Humanin (2.5 or 5 mg/kg/day) for five days before intravenous hvKP challenge.
  7. 07AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome

    In mice infected with hypervirulent K. pneumoniae, Humanin pretreatment was associated with lower CD86 fluorescence.

    In plain wordsIn mice with a serious Klebsiella infection, humanin given beforehand was linked to a lower macrophage activation marker, CD86.

    Peptide
    Humanin
    Outcome
    DecreaseCD86 fluorescence
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    C57BL/6 mice with intravenous hvKP challenge
    Outcome group
    Inflammation markers · Liver
    Studied dose
    2.5 or 5 mg/kg/day · intraperitoneal · 5 days before hvKP challengeAs given in this study (mouse).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    In infected mice, Humanin pretreatment was associated with less prominent histopathological liver injury and lower serum ALT, AST, and PCT, hepatic myeloperoxidase activity, F4/80 immunoreactivity, CD86 fluorescence, and pro-inflammatory gene expression.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    C57BL/6 mice received intraperitoneal Humanin (2.5 or 5 mg/kg/day) for five days before intravenous hvKP challenge.
  8. 08AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome

    In mice infected with hypervirulent K. pneumoniae, Humanin pretreatment was associated with lower pro-inflammatory gene expression.

    In plain wordsIn mice with a serious Klebsiella infection, humanin given beforehand was linked to lower activity of inflammation genes.

    Peptide
    Humanin
    Outcome
    DecreasePro-inflammatory gene expression
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    C57BL/6 mice with intravenous hvKP challenge
    Outcome group
    Inflammation markers · Liver
    Studied dose
    2.5 or 5 mg/kg/day · intraperitoneal · 5 days before hvKP challengeAs given in this study (mouse).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    In infected mice, Humanin pretreatment was associated with less prominent histopathological liver injury and lower serum ALT, AST, and PCT, hepatic myeloperoxidase activity, F4/80 immunoreactivity, CD86 fluorescence, and pro-inflammatory gene expression.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    C57BL/6 mice received intraperitoneal Humanin (2.5 or 5 mg/kg/day) for five days before intravenous hvKP challenge.
  9. 09AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome

    In infected mice, the effects of Humanin were generally greater at 5 mg/kg than at 2.5 mg/kg.

    In plain wordsIn infected mice, the higher humanin dose generally worked better than the lower dose.

    Peptide
    Humanin
    Outcome
    Not applicableDose dependence of the effects (2.5 versus 5 mg/kg)
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    C57BL/6 mice with intravenous hvKP challenge
    Outcome group
    Inflammation markers · Liver
    Studied dose
    2.5 or 5 mg/kg/day · intraperitoneal · 5 days before hvKP challengeAs given in this study (mouse).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    The effects were generally greater at 5 mg/kg than at 2.5 mg/kg.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    C57BL/6 mice received intraperitoneal Humanin (2.5 or 5 mg/kg/day) for five days before intravenous hvKP challenge.
  10. 10AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism

    In infected mice, Humanin pretreatment attenuated inflammatory pathways in liver transcriptomes, including NF-κB signaling.

    In plain wordsIn infected mice, humanin given beforehand dampened inflammation pathways in the liver, including NF-κB signaling.

    Peptide
    Humanin
    Outcome
    DecreaseNF-κB signaling pathway (transcriptomic)
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    C57BL/6 mice with intravenous hvKP challenge
    Outcome group
    Receptor activity and mechanism · Liver
    Studied dose
    2.5 or 5 mg/kg/day · intraperitoneal · 5 days before hvKP challengeAs given in this study (mouse).

    Measurements

    NES
    −1.86
    NF-κB signaling
    FDR
    0.012
    NF-κB signaling

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Transcriptomic analysis showed attenuation of inflammatory pathways, including NF-κB signaling (NES = -1.86, p = 0.002, FDR = 0.012).
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    C57BL/6 mice received intraperitoneal Humanin (2.5 or 5 mg/kg/day) for five days before intravenous hvKP challenge.
  11. 11AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism

    In infected mice, Humanin reduced the p-p65/p65 ratio in liver tissue.

    In plain wordsIn infected mice, humanin lowered activation of the NF-κB protein p65 in the liver.

    Peptide
    Humanin
    Outcome
    Decreasep-p65/p65 ratio in liver tissue
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    C57BL/6 mice with intravenous hvKP challenge
    Outcome group
    Receptor activity and mechanism · Liver
    Studied dose
    2.5 or 5 mg/kg/day · intraperitoneal · 5 days before hvKP challengeAs given in this study (mouse).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Humanin also reduced p-p65/p65 and p-IκBα/IκBα ratios in liver tissue
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    C57BL/6 mice received intraperitoneal Humanin (2.5 or 5 mg/kg/day) for five days before intravenous hvKP challenge.
  12. 12AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism

    In infected mice, Humanin reduced the p-IκBα/IκBα ratio in liver tissue.

    In plain wordsIn infected mice, humanin lowered the p-IκBα to IκBα ratio, a sign of NF-κB signaling, in the liver.

    Peptide
    Humanin
    Outcome
    Decreasep-IκBα/IκBα ratio in liver tissue
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    C57BL/6 mice with intravenous hvKP challenge
    Outcome group
    Receptor activity and mechanism · Liver
    Studied dose
    2.5 or 5 mg/kg/day · intraperitoneal · 5 days before hvKP challengeAs given in this study (mouse).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Humanin also reduced p-p65/p65 and p-IκBα/IκBα ratios in liver tissue
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    C57BL/6 mice received intraperitoneal Humanin (2.5 or 5 mg/kg/day) for five days before intravenous hvKP challenge.
  13. 13AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome

    In mice infected with hypervirulent K. pneumoniae, Humanin at 5 mg/kg prolonged survival.

    In plain wordsIn mice with a serious Klebsiella infection, humanin at 5 mg/kg helped them live longer.

    Peptide
    Humanin
    Outcome
    IncreaseSurvival
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    C57BL/6 mice with intravenous hvKP challenge
    Outcome group
    Mortality · Liver
    Studied dose
    5 mg/kg/day · intraperitoneal · 5 days before hvKP challengeAs given in this study (mouse).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    5 mg/kg prolonged survival (p < 0.05).
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    C57BL/6 mice received intraperitoneal Humanin (2.5 or 5 mg/kg/day) for five days before intravenous hvKP challenge.
  14. 14LabIn vitro (cells)Mechanism

    In hvKP-stimulated bone-marrow-derived macrophages, Humanin reduced the p-p65/p65 ratio.

    In plain wordsIn lab-grown immune cells exposed to Klebsiella, humanin lowered activation of the NF-κB protein p65.

    Peptide
    Humanin
    Outcome
    Decreasep-p65/p65 ratio in hvKP-stimulated macrophages
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    hvKP-stimulated bone-marrow-derived macrophages
    Outcome group
    Receptor activity and mechanism · Liver
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Humanin also reduced p-p65/p65 and p-IκBα/IκBα ratios in liver tissue and hvKP-stimulated bone-marrow-derived macrophages
  15. 15LabIn vitro (cells)Mechanism

    In hvKP-stimulated bone-marrow-derived macrophages, Humanin reduced the p-IκBα/IκBα ratio.

    In plain wordsIn lab-grown immune cells exposed to Klebsiella, humanin lowered the p-IκBα to IκBα ratio, a sign of NF-κB signaling.

    Peptide
    Humanin
    Outcome
    Decreasep-IκBα/IκBα ratio in hvKP-stimulated macrophages
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    hvKP-stimulated bone-marrow-derived macrophages
    Outcome group
    Receptor activity and mechanism · Liver
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Humanin also reduced p-p65/p65 and p-IκBα/IκBα ratios in liver tissue and hvKP-stimulated bone-marrow-derived macrophages

Natural levels measured1

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.

  1. 16HumanEndogenous levelObservational studyOther

    In patients with hvKP-associated bloodstream infection and liver abscess, serum Humanin was higher than in healthy controls.

    In plain wordsPatients with a serious Klebsiella infection and liver abscess had higher natural humanin levels in blood than healthy people.

    Peptide
    Humanin
    Outcome
    IncreaseSerum Humanin in patients with hvKP bloodstream infection and liver abscess
    Study

    n = 40

    Comparator
    Matched healthy controls
    Outcome group
    Infection and antimicrobial activity · Infection

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Serum Humanin was higher in patients than in the controls (p < 0.001).
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    We measured serum Humanin in 20 patients with hvKP-associated bloodstream infection and liver abscess and 20 matched healthy controls.

    This result measures the body's own Humanin. Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.

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.

  1. Version 2Current

    13 Oct 2026, 21:44 UTC

    Study results updated

  2. Version 1

    13 Oct 2026, 16:31 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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