Angiotensin (1-7) vs Humanin

Binds Mas receptor (MasR), activating nitric oxide synthase and reducing oxidative stress. Opposes TGF-β and angiotensin II signaling to reduce fibrosis. Enhances insulin sensitivity and provides cardiovascular protection.

Angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)] is an endogenous heptapeptide hormone generated primarily through cleavage of angiotensin II by ACE2, functioning as a counter-regulatory arm of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) by binding the Mas receptor to promote vasodilation, anti-fibrotic, anti-inflammatory, and cardioprotective effects that oppose the vasoconstrictive actions of angiotensin II. Ang-(1-7) acts through the ACE2/Mas receptor axis to reduce oxidative stress, attenuate NF-kB-mediated inflammation, and suppress TGF-beta fibrosis signaling; the ACE2/Ang-(1-7)/Mas axis has emerged as a key regulatory pathway in cardiovascular and metabolic disease, and gained renewed research attention given ACE2's role as the SARS-CoV-2 entry receptor. A Phase 1-2 randomized clinical trial of Ang-(1-7) infusion in COVID-19 ICU patients reported preliminary safety, tolerability, and dose-response data, providing the primary indexed human pharmacokinetic evidence; broader cardiovascular protective applications are supported by preclinical data but have not been established by completed Phase 3 trials. Ang-(1-7) has no FDA approval and no approved therapeutic indication in any jurisdiction; it is an endogenous peptide under active clinical investigation as a candidate for cardiovascular, metabolic, and inflammatory conditions, with emerging human safety data but an incomplete evidence base for any specific approved clinical use.

Mitochondria-derived peptide; binds gp130 receptor, activates STAT3/JAK pathway; inhibits BAX-mediated apoptosis; improves insulin sensitivity

Humanin is a mitochondrially encoded 21-amino-acid peptide originally identified through its capacity to suppress neuronal apoptosis induced by familial Alzheimer's disease gene products, now recognized as a founding member of the class of mitochondrial-derived peptides (MDPs) with broad cytoprotective actions in neurons, cardiomyocytes, and other metabolically stressed cell types. Humanin exerts its cytoprotective effects through multiple mechanisms: extracellularly, it binds insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) to regulate IGFBP-3's interaction with nuclear import machinery and modulate its proapoptotic signaling; intracellularly, it inhibits c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) activation through SH3-binding protein 5 to suppress stress-induced apoptotic cascades. PNAS research established that humanin interacts with IGFBP-3 to regulate cell survival and apoptosis, characterizing a molecular basis for its anti-apoptotic activity, and subsequent work identified JNK inhibition as an additional neuroprotective mechanism in humanin-treated neuronal preparations. Humanin is a research compound with no regulatory approval in any jurisdiction; published evidence is predominantly from in vitro and preclinical models, and no human clinical trials have been completed to establish pharmacokinetic, safety, or efficacy parameters for exogenous humanin administration.