{
  "abstract": "Aerobic exercise is pivotal for managing metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), but its mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigates the anti-MASLD effects of MOTS-c, a mitochondrial peptide secreted during aerobic exercise, in diabetic MASLD mice and HepG2 cells. Our study found MOTS-c expression in skeletal muscle was reduced in the MASLD mice but restored by aerobic exercise. Both MOTS-c and aerobic exercise significantly improved hepatic steatosis in MASLD mice by suppressing lipid synthesis and inflammation. MOTS-c’s protective effects were diminished in ACE2-knockout mice. The results revealed a synergistic reduction in pAMPK and ACE2 expression in the MASLD mice, partially reversible by MOTS-c intervention. In HepG2 cells, MOTS-c-induced hepatic ACE2 upregulation was counteracted by the AMPK inhibitor Compound C. These findings suggest that aerobic exercise-induced secretion of skeletal muscle MOTS-c ameliorates MASLD via hepatic ACE2 upregulation, providing a novel non-pharmacological target for metabolic liver diseases.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 7,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Rui Li"
    },
    {
      "name": "Fangyu Li"
    },
    {
      "name": "Qi Chen"
    },
    {
      "name": "Yuanyuan Gao"
    },
    {
      "name": "Zhuoying Wu"
    },
    {
      "name": "Hongjun Deng"
    },
    {
      "name": "Li Yuan",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-6474-746X"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/6hwbj6dmzwfk9.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1038/s41598-026-60273-8",
  "fulltext_url": "https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-60273-8",
  "id": "6hwbj6dmzwfk9",
  "issns": [
    "2045-2322"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-60273-8",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
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      "lcc",
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      "openalex",
      "2742|Exercise and Physiological Responses"
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  "openalex": "W7223110572",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-60273-8.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-22",
  "publisher": "Springer Science and Business Media LLC",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/6hwbj6dmzwfk9.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:33Z",
      "native_id": "10.1038/s41598-026-60273-8",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-60273-8"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T13:45:53Z",
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      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-60273-8"
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  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2742|Exercise and Physiological Responses",
      "subfield": "general"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Aerobic exercise induced skeletal muscle MOTS-c secretion: A novel therapy for MASLD via hepatic ACE2 regulation",
  "title_text": "Aerobic exercise induced skeletal muscle MOTS-c secretion: A novel therapy for MASLD via hepatic ACE2 regulation",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T13:45:53Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/6hwbj6dmzwfk9",
  "venue": "Scientific Reports",
  "versions": []
}