We know that mitochondria are the main cellular sites devoted to ATP (energy) production and fatty acid oxidation. The Mitochondrial-Derived Peptide MOTS-c promotes metabolic homeostasis and reduces obesity and insulin resistance. Mitochondria also play a crucial role in determining metabolic flexibility.
MOTS-c in Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a multi-factor and age-related metabolic disease. Bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are the progenitor cells of osteoblasts and adipocytes and play an essential role in the process of bone formation.
AMPK can stimulate the proliferation, differentiation and mineralization of osteoblasts, which exerts an important role in the cellular functions of osteoblasts. Osteoblasts are cells that make bone. Bone mass is maintained by a balance between the activity of osteoblasts that form bone and other cells called osteoclasts that break it down.
Studies show that BMSC's treated with MOTS-c upregulated expression levels of ALP, Bglap, and Runx2. This resulted in the formation of mineralized nodules, indicating the osteogenic capacity of BMSC's regulated by MOTS-c. In simple nonscientific terms,
MOTS-c promotes cell differentiation of BMSCs to osteoblasts = bone formation.