# References — Metabolic & Weight Research Peptide Literature — TSMMA Peptides

> The aggregated citation list for the TSMMA Peptides metabolic digest: peer-reviewed sources on MOTS-c and tesamorelin, with DOIs and PubMed links.

Every source cited across the MOTS-c and tesamorelin pages and the comparison, gathered in one place.

## References

The list below aggregates the cited literature across both peptides on this desk — MOTS-c and tesamorelin. Each entry gives authors, title, journal and year, with a DOI and a PubMed link where available. A single citation is listed once and referred to by its number throughout the site. Where a source is a review, meta-analysis, or regulatory monograph, that document is what is cited, not the primary studies it synthesizes.

## References

[1] Kumagai H, Kim SJ, Miller B, et al. MOTS-c modulates skeletal muscle function by directly binding and activating CK2. iScience. 2024;27(11):111212. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39559755/
[2] Bolignano D, Greco M, Presta P, Duni A, et al. The Mitochondrial-Derived Peptide MOTS-c May Refine Mortality and Cardiovascular Risk Prediction in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients: A Multicenter Cohort Study. Blood Purification. 2024;53(10):824-837. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39111290/
[3] Wan W, Zhang L, Lin Y, Rao X, Wang X, Hua F, Ying J. Mitochondria-derived peptide MOTS-c: effects and mechanisms related to stress, metabolism and aging. Journal of Translational Medicine. 2023;21(1):36. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36670507/
[4] Reynolds JC, Lai RW, Woodhead JST, Joly JH, Mitchell CJ, Cameron-Smith D, Lu R, Cohen P, Graham NA, Benayoun BA, Merry TL, Lee C. MOTS-c is an exercise-induced mitochondrial-encoded regulator of age-dependent physical decline and muscle homeostasis. Nature Communications. 2021;12(1):470. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33473109/
[5] Kim KH, Son JM, Benayoun BA, Lee C. The Mitochondrial-Encoded Peptide MOTS-c Translocates to the Nucleus to Regulate Nuclear Gene Expression in Response to Metabolic Stress. Cell Metabolism. 2018;28(3):516-524.e7. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29983246/
[6] Lee C, Zeng J, Drew BG, Sallam T, Martin-Montalvo A, Wan J, Kim SJ, Mehta H, Hevener AL, de Cabo R, Cohen P. The mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c promotes metabolic homeostasis and reduces obesity and insulin resistance. Cell Metabolism. 2015;21(3):443-454. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25738459/
[7] Pham T, Taberner A, Hickey A, Han JC. Mitochondria-derived peptide MOTS-c restores mitochondrial respiration in type 2 diabetic heart. Frontiers in Physiology. 2025;16:1602271. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40661667/
[8] Badran AS, et al. Body composition, hepatic fat, metabolic, and safety outcomes of Tesamorelin, a GHRH analogue, in HIV-associated lipodystrophy: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Obesity Research & Clinical Practice. 2026;20(1):2-12. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41545261/
[9] National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (LiverTox). Tesamorelin - LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury. NCBI Bookshelf (NIH). 2018. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK548730/
[10] Stanley TL, Feldpausch MN, Oh J, Branch KL, Lee H, Torriani M, Grinspoon SK. Effect of tesamorelin on visceral fat and liver fat in HIV-infected patients with abdominal fat accumulation: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2014;312(4):380-389. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25038357/
[11] Stanley TL, Chen CY, Branch KL, Makimura H, Grinspoon SK. Effects of a growth hormone-releasing hormone analog on endogenous GH pulsatility and insulin sensitivity in healthy men. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. 2011;96(1):150-158. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20943777/
[12] Falutz J, Allas S, Mamputu JC, Potvin D, Kotler D, Somero M, Berger D, Brown S, Richmond G, Fessel J, Turner R, Grinspoon S. Long-term safety and effects of tesamorelin, a growth hormone-releasing factor analogue, in HIV patients with abdominal fat accumulation. AIDS. 2008;22(14):1719-1728. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18690162/

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A literature digest tracing two metabolic signals from mitochondria and pituitary to the edge of clinical evidence — citations only, never a clinic, never a vendor.