Mitochondrial peptide MOTS-c suppresses systemic and cardiac inflammasome activation in a diabetic rat model.

Rats with type 2 diabetes, induced by a high-fat diet and a chemical called streptozotocin, were given MOTS-c, a peptide derived from mitochondria. The study lasted for an unspecified period, and the researchers measured fasting blood glucose, C-reactive protein (a marker of inflammation), and various inflammatory cytokines in the blood. They also examined heart tissue under a microscope to look for proteins involved in the NLRP3 inflammasome, a complex that drives inflammation. The paper reports that MOTS-c lowered blood sugar and C-reactive protein, and reduced the levels of NLRP3 and related proteins in the heart, suggesting it dampened inflammation. The authors conclude that MOTS-c may help reduce cardiovascular risk in diabetes, but this is their interpretation, not a proven benefit.

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