The Mitochondrial Genome-Encoded Peptide MOTS-c Interacts with Bcl-2 to Alleviate Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Progression

Plain-language summary

Published in Cell Reports, this study demonstrated that the mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c alleviates diet-induced mitochondrial metabolic deficiency, liver steatosis, cellular apoptosis, inflammation, and fibrosis in a nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) model. The researchers found that MOTS-c interacts directly with the protein Bcl-2, suppresses its ubiquitination, and increases its stability, thereby maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis under metabolic stress. These findings identify a novel molecular mechanism through which MOTS-c may offer protection against NASH progression.