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Research Progress of Structure， Physiological Function and Action Mechanism of Humanin and Its Derivatives
Yan Bing, Zhong Liyong*
Department of Endocrinology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China
Abstract: Humanin (HN)， a 24-amino-acid polypeptide， was first identified from the surviving neurons in occipital lobe of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients. Humanin inhibits neuronal cell death induced by various kinds of familial Alzheimer’s disease gene mutations and β-amyloid peptide， which was thought to be an AD specific neuroprotective peptide at first. However， many recent studies demonstrated that humanin possesses diverse neuroprotective， cytoprotective and anti-inflammatory effects. Meanwhile， humanin can also improve insulin sensitivity， then delay onset of diabetes. Humanin offers protection in many disease models， such as AD， type 2 diabetes mellitus， atherosclerosis， myocardial ischemia， stroke and so on. Humanin probably plays important roles in the prevention and treatment of these diseases.
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