Peptide Library

Research statistics

MOTS-C research: publications and trials

What has been published on MOTS-C: PubMed publications, the kind of evidence they report and registered clinical trials. These are counts of research, not a judgment of whether MOTS-C works or is safe. For what it is and what the studies found, see the MOTS-C profile.
Automated weekly refresh · data through November 1, 2026

At a glance

Publications, all years

221

Since 2015

Publications in 2026 so far

41

Through November 1, 2026

Human clinical research

27.7%

61 of 220 classified

Registered clinical trials

1

ClinicalTrials.gov

Randomized controlled trials

4

Publications reporting an RCT in people

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses

1

Preclinical studies

48.6%

92 animal · 14 in vitro · 1 computational

Records that only mention it

34

Not counted above

Status in the library: Research only. Groups: Longevity and mitochondrial peptides. 1 publications are not yet classified by study type.

What to keep in mind

  • The body makes this molecule itself, so much of its literature is physiology rather than research on it as a compound.

Publications by year

MOTS-C publications by year and evidence

2015, Preclinical (animal, in vitro, computational): 1 of 32015, Reviews and meta-analyses: 1 of 32015, Other and not yet classified: 1 of 32016, Preclinical (animal, in vitro, computational): 1 of 22016, Reviews and meta-analyses: 1 of 22017, Human clinical research: 1 of 32017, Preclinical (animal, in vitro, computational): 1 of 32017, Reviews and meta-analyses: 1 of 32018, Human clinical research: 2 of 82018, Preclinical (animal, in vitro, computational): 3 of 82018, Reviews and meta-analyses: 1 of 82018, Other and not yet classified: 2 of 82019, Human clinical research: 4 of 172019, Preclinical (animal, in vitro, computational): 8 of 172019, Reviews and meta-analyses: 3 of 172019, Other and not yet classified: 2 of 172020, Human clinical research: 1 of 82020, Preclinical (animal, in vitro, computational): 5 of 82020, Reviews and meta-analyses: 2 of 82021, Human clinical research: 7 of 252021, Preclinical (animal, in vitro, computational): 11 of 252021, Reviews and meta-analyses: 5 of 252021, Other and not yet classified: 2 of 252022, Human clinical research: 7 of 172022, Preclinical (animal, in vitro, computational): 6 of 172022, Reviews and meta-analyses: 4 of 172023, Human clinical research: 9 of 272023, Preclinical (animal, in vitro, computational): 9 of 272023, Reviews and meta-analyses: 9 of 272024, Human clinical research: 8 of 312024, Preclinical (animal, in vitro, computational): 21 of 312024, Reviews and meta-analyses: 1 of 312024, Other and not yet classified: 1 of 312025, Human clinical research: 13 of 392025, Preclinical (animal, in vitro, computational): 17 of 392025, Reviews and meta-analyses: 5 of 392025, Other and not yet classified: 4 of 392026 (to date), Human clinical research: 9 of 412026 (to date), Preclinical (animal, in vitro, computational): 24 of 412026 (to date), Reviews and meta-analyses: 6 of 412026 (to date), Other and not yet classified: 2 of 41Human clinical researchPreclinical (animal, in vitro, computational)Reviews and meta-analysesOther and not yet classified02040602015201820212026*
Counted PubMed publications by year of first publication. * 2026 runs to November 1, 2026. A larger bar is more publications, not stronger evidence.
Show the data
YearHuman clinical researchPreclinical (animal, in vitro, computational)Reviews and meta-analysesOther and not yet classifiedTotal
201501113
201601102
201711103
201823128
2019483217
202015208
20217115225
2022764017
2023999027
20248211131
202513175439
2026 (to date)9246241

Study types

Animal study92
Observational human study55
Review38
In vitro study14
Editorial, letter or other8
Correction or retraction notice5
Randomized controlled trial4
Other clinical trial2
Computational study1
Systematic review1
Not yet classified1

Research areas

From MeSH major topics. A paper can be in several areas.

Metabolic health82
Cardiovascular47
Musculoskeletal44
Endocrinology42
Neurological and mental health32
Immune system30
Longevity and aging24
Tissue repair21
Obesity and weight management20
Reproductive and sexual health20
Oncology16
Gastrointestinal12

Registered clinical trials

A registration is not a result.

Recruiting: 1
Phase 2: 1

TrialStatusPhaseStartedResults
MOTS-c for Improving Insulin Sensitivity in Adults With Prediabetes and Overweight/ObesityNCT07505745 · 120 enrolledRecruitingPhase 22026-02—

Human trials and evidence reviews

Meta-analyses, systematic reviews and trials in people, newest first.

  1. Mitochondrial-derived peptides (MDPs) activated by physical exercise as therapeutic targets for metabolic disorders: A systematic review.

    Physiology international · August 25, 2026 · Systematic review · cited 0 times

    PMID 42640735 · DOI 10.1556/2060.2026.00863 · Reviews and meta-analyses

  2. Repeated Heat Stress Modulates the Levels of the Mitokines MOTS-C and FGF21 in Active Men during Calf Muscle Immobilization.

    Medicine and science in sports and exercise · July 17, 2025 · Randomized controlled trial · cited 1 times

    PMID 40674654 · DOI 10.1249/mss.0000000000003825 · Human clinical research

  3. Circulating levels of MOTS-c in patients with breast cancer treated with metformin.

    Aging · December 6, 2022 · Randomized controlled trial · cited 5 times · open access

    PMID 36490309 · DOI 10.18632/aging.204423 · Human clinical research

  4. Effect of aerobic and resistance exercise on the mitochondrial peptide MOTS-c in Hispanic and Non-Hispanic White breast cancer survivors.

    Scientific reports · August 19, 2021 · Randomized controlled trial · cited 36 times · open access

    PMID 34413391 · DOI 10.1038/s41598-021-96419-z · Human clinical research

  5. Acute endurance exercise stimulates circulating levels of mitochondrial-derived peptides in humans.

    Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985) · August 5, 2021 · Randomized controlled trial · cited 42 times · open access

    PMID 34351816 · DOI 10.1152/japplphysiol.00706.2019 · Human clinical research

  6. Prediction of Post-Acute-Sequelae of COVID-19 by Cargo Protein Biomarkers of Blood Total Extracellular Vesicles in Acute COVID-19.

    The American journal of medicine · April 17, 2023 · Other clinical trial · cited 14 times · open access

    PMID 37072092 · DOI 10.1016/j.amjmed.2023.03.026 · Human clinical research

  7. Lipids and insulin regulate mitochondrial-derived peptide (MOTS-c) in PCOS and healthy subjects.

    Clinical endocrinology · May 15, 2019 · Other clinical trial · cited 38 times · open access

    PMID 31066084 · DOI 10.1111/cen.14007 · Human clinical research

Most cited

By OpenAlex citation count. Citations measure attention, not quality or correctness.

  1. The mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c promotes metabolic homeostasis and reduces obesity and insulin resistance.

    Cell metabolism · March 1, 2015 · Animal study · cited 710 times · open access

    PMID 25738459 · DOI 10.1016/j.cmet.2015.02.009 · Animal studies

  2. The Mitochondrial-Encoded Peptide MOTS-c Translocates to the Nucleus to Regulate Nuclear Gene Expression in Response to Metabolic Stress.

    Cell metabolism · July 5, 2018 · In vitro study · cited 302 times · open access

    PMID 29983246 · DOI 10.1016/j.cmet.2018.06.008 · In vitro studies

  3. MOTS-c is an exercise-induced mitochondrial-encoded regulator of age-dependent physical decline and muscle homeostasis.

    Nature communications · January 20, 2021 · Animal study · cited 197 times · open access

    PMID 33473109 · DOI 10.1038/s41467-020-20790-0 · Animal studies

  4. Mitochondrially derived peptides as novel regulators of metabolism.

    The Journal of physiology · July 18, 2017 · Review · cited 184 times · open access

    PMID 28574175 · DOI 10.1113/jp274472 · Reviews and meta-analyses

  5. MOTS-c: A novel mitochondrial-derived peptide regulating muscle and fat metabolism.

    Free radical biology & medicine · May 20, 2016 · Review · cited 178 times · open access

    PMID 27216708 · DOI 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2016.05.015 · Reviews and meta-analyses

Latest publications

  1. Mots-c attenuates diabetic nephropathy by downregulating LARS1 to promote lipophagy and suppress tubular senescence.

    Biochemical pharmacology · October 23, 2026 · Animal study · cited 0 times

    PMID 42918312 · DOI 10.1016/j.bcp.2026.118572 · Animal studies

  2. Integrative transcriptomic and computational analysis associates Ms4a6c+ macrophages with fibrosis in radiation proctitis and computationally nominates MOTS-c as a candidate modulator.

    Frontiers in immunology · October 14, 2026 · Computational study · cited 0 times · open access

    PMID 42952740 · DOI 10.3389/fimmu.2026.1907084 · Computational studies

  3. Mitochondrial-derived peptides in female reproduction: Emerging regulators of oocyte competence and novel therapeutic opportunities for infertility.

    Tissue & cell · October 11, 2026 · Review · cited 0 times

    PMID 42880137 · DOI 10.1016/j.tice.2026.104044 · Reviews and meta-analyses

  4. Associations of Serum MOTS-c with Exercise Capacity and Antioxidant Markers in Young Males: A Cross-Sectional Study.

    Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) · October 1, 2026 · Observational human study · cited 0 times · open access

    PMID 42939841 · DOI 10.3390/antiox15101267 · Human clinical research

  5. The mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c improves bioenergetics in aging-associated granulosa cells and oocytes.

    Reproduction & fertility · October 1, 2026 · In vitro study · cited 0 times · open access

    PMID 42895211 · DOI 10.1530/raf-26-0161 · In vitro studies

  6. MOTS-c mediates remote ischemic preconditioning-induced protection against lung ischemia-reperfusion injury via NRF2-dependent mitochondrial biogenesis.

    Chinese medical journal · September 21, 2026 · Not yet classified · cited 0 times · open access

    PMID 42767971 · DOI 10.1097/cm9.0000000000004254 · Not yet classified

  7. Correction: Reduced serum and skeletal muscle MOTS c levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome are associated with mitochondrial dysfunction.

    Scientific reports · September 9, 2026 · Correction or retraction notice · cited 0 times · open access

    PMID 42716952 · DOI 10.1038/s41598-026-70401-z · Notices

  8. Mitochondrial-derived peptides (MDPs) activated by physical exercise as therapeutic targets for metabolic disorders: A systematic review.

    Physiology international · August 25, 2026 · Systematic review · cited 0 times

    PMID 42640735 · DOI 10.1556/2060.2026.00863 · Reviews and meta-analyses

  9. MOTS-c in sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy: Mechanisms and translational potential.

    European journal of pharmacology · August 23, 2026 · Review · cited 0 times

    PMID 42633878 · DOI 10.1016/j.ejphar.2026.179261 · Reviews and meta-analyses

  10. MOTS-c is a mitochondrial-encoded interferon-linked host defense peptide.

    eLife · August 18, 2026 · Animal study · cited 0 times · open access

    PMID 42611943 · DOI 10.7554/elife.87615 · Animal studies

Browse all 221 publications in the dashboard

How this is counted

PubMed records matched by the names below, counted when the peptide is in the title, indexed by MeSH, or confirmed from the abstract. The exact query can be rerun on Europe PMC. Methodology

Search terms: Mitochondrial ORF of the 12S rRNA type-c; MOTS-c; MOTSc peptide

((TITLE_ABS:"Mitochondrial ORF of the 12S rRNA type-c" OR CHEM:"Mitochondrial ORF of the 12S rRNA type-c" OR TITLE_ABS:"Mitochondrial ORF of the12S rRNA type-c" OR CHEM:"Mitochondrial ORF of the12S rRNA type-c") OR (TITLE_ABS:"MOTS-c" OR CHEM:"MOTS-c") OR (TITLE_ABS:"MOTSc peptide" OR CHEM:"MOTSc peptide")) AND SRC:MED

Cite this page

Peptide Library. (2026, November 2). MOTS-C research statistics (Version weekly-2026-11-01) [Statistic]. Peptide Library. https://peptidelibrary.app/research/peptides/mots-c