Celastrol and Cblin Peptide Activation of IGF-1 Signaling Prevents Microgravity-Induced Atrophy in Rat L6 Myotubes.
Park. Junsoo J; Ulla. Anayt A; Uchida. Takayuki T; Lee. Siyun S; Tsuda. Haruka H; Ishige Suzuki. Tomoko T; Hashizume. Toko T; Higashibata. Akira A; Park. Rackhyun R; Kobayashi. Takeshi T; Sokabe. Masahiro M; Choi. Inho I; Nikawa. Takeshi T
Key Findings
- Celastrol reduces muscle cell thinning by increasing heat‑shock protein levels
- Cblin peptide prevents IRS‑1 breakdown, enhancing IGF‑1 signaling and preserving muscle protein
- Both agents work alone but show no added benefit when combined
- Cblin peptide is naturally present in glycinin‑rich soy protein; Celastrol comes from the Tripterygium wilfordii plant
Practical Outcomes
- For biohackers, the take‑away is that soy‑rich foods (especially those high in glycinin) might supply Cblin‑like peptides that support IGF‑1 signaling, and low‑dose Celastrol extracts could boost cellular stress defenses. However, human dosing, safety, and effectiveness are untested, so start with modest soy intake and any Celastrol supplement only after careful research and possibly medical guidance.
Summary
The study shows that two natural compounds, Celastrol and a soy‑derived Cblin peptide, can each protect muscle cells from shrinking in a simulated space‑flight environment by boosting stress‑protein defenses or keeping the IGF‑1 growth pathway active. They work separately, not together, and the work was done in rat cells, not people, so the findings are promising but still early.
Abstract
This study investigated the efficacy of two natural compounds-Celastrol, a heat shock protein (HSP) inducer, and Cblin peptide, a ubiquitination inhibitor-in counteracting muscle atrophy under real microgravity conditions. Both agents independently attenuated microgravity-induced reductions in myotube thickness, myosin heavy chain (MyHC) protein levels, and atrogene expression. Celastrol primarily enhanced HSP expression, while Cblin peptide inhibited IRS-1 degradation, thereby promoting IGF-1 signaling. Despite their distinct molecular actions, no synergistic or additive effects were observed when combined. These findings highlight the potential of Celastrol and Cblin peptide as functional ingredients for mitigating muscle atrophy, particularly in the context of space travel. Notably, Cblin peptide is abundant in glycinin-rich soybean protein, and Celastrol is derived from the root of <i>Tripterygium wilfordii</i> (Taiwan vine). Future applications may include incorporating these plant-derived compounds into space foods to improve the quality of life for astronauts in space.
Study Information
pubmed
2025
2025-11-18T00:00:00.000Z
10.1152/ajpcell.00348.2025