SLU-PP-332: A Promising Peptide for Metabolic Health and Exercise Mimicry
SLU-PP-332 is an investigational small molecule that has garnered attention in the scientific community for its potential to enhance metabolic health and mimic the effects of exercise. As a potent agonist of estrogen-related receptors (ERRs), particularly ERRα, SLU-PP-332 offers a novel approach to addressing metabolic disorders and age-related decline in mitochondrial function.
Mechanism of Action
SLU-PP-332 functions primarily as an agonist of the estrogen-related receptor alpha (ERRα), a nuclear receptor that plays a critical role in regulating energy metabolism. By binding to ERRα, SLU-PP-332 activates the receptor, leading to the upregulation of genes involved in:
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Mitochondrial biogenesis: Enhancing the production of new mitochondria.
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Oxidative phosphorylation: Improving the efficiency of the electron transport chain for ATP production.
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Fatty acid oxidation: Increasing the breakdown of fatty acids for energy.
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Glucose metabolism: Enhancing glucose uptake and utilization.
These effects collectively contribute to improved cellular energy homeostasis and metabolic function .
Benefits
1. Metabolic Health Improvement
Preclinical studies have demonstrated that SLU-PP-332 can significantly improve markers of metabolic health. In animal models of diet-induced obesity, treatment with SLU-PP-332 resulted in:
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Reduction in body weight.
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Decrease in white adipose tissue mass.
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Improvement in glucose tolerance.
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Lowering of fasting insulin levels.
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Reduction in hepatic steatosis and inflammation .
2. Exercise Mimetic Effects
SLU-PP-332 has been shown to mimic the molecular and physiological effects of aerobic exercise. Notable findings include:
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Increased mitochondrial density in skeletal muscle.
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Enhanced expression of glucose transporters (e.g., GLUT4).
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Improved muscular endurance and running capacity in sedentary animals.
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Shift in muscle fiber composition toward more oxidative phenotypes.
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Increased vascular density in skeletal muscle .
3. Mitochondrial Function and Aging
Aging is associated with a decline in mitochondrial function and increased inflammation. SLU-PP-332 has demonstrated the ability to:
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Restore mitochondrial respiration rates in aged tissues.
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Reduce age-associated inflammation markers such as IL-6 and TNF-α.
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Decrease oxidative damage to mitochondrial DNA.
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Improve autophagy and mitophagy processes.
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Attenuate fibrotic changes in kidneys and heart .
4. Cardioprotective Effects
In models of heart failure and ischemia-reperfusion injury, SLU-PP-332 treatment led to:
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Preservation of cardiac contractility.
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Reduction in cardiomyocyte apoptosis.
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Improved myocardial energetics through enhanced fatty acid oxidation.
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Attenuation of pathological cardiac remodeling.
Scientific Evidence
The promising effects of SLU-PP-332 have been documented in several peer-reviewed studies:
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Billon et al. (2023): Demonstrated that SLU-PP-332 induces an ERRα-dependent acute aerobic exercise response and enhances exercise capacity in mice.
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Xu et al. (2023): Reported that novel pan-ERR agonists, including SLU-PP-332, ameliorate heart failure by enhancing cardiac fatty acid metabolism and mitochondrial function.
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Wang et al. (2023): Found that estrogen-related receptor agonism reverses mitochondrial dysfunction and inflammation in the aging kidney .
Conclusion
SLU-PP-332 represents a promising therapeutic candidate for addressing metabolic disorders, enhancing exercise capacity, and mitigating age-related mitochondrial decline. While current findings are based on preclinical studies, the compelling evidence warrants further investigation into its potential applications in human health.
References
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Billon, C., Sitaula, S., Banerjee, S., et al. (2023). Synthetic ERRα/β/γ Agonist Induces an ERRα-Dependent Acute Aerobic Exercise Response and Enhances Exercise Capacity. ACS Chemical Biology. https://doi.org/10.1021/acschembio.2c00720
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Xu, W., Billon, C., Li, H., et al. (2023). Novel Pan-ERR Agonists Ameliorate Heart Failure Through Enhancing Cardiac Fatty Acid Metabolism and Mitochondrial Function. Circulation, 149, 227–250. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.123.066542
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Wang, X., Myakala, K., Libby, A., et al. (2023). Estrogen-related receptor agonism reverses mitochondrial dysfunction and inflammation in the aging kidney. The American Journal of Pathology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajpath.2023.07.008
Note: SLU-PP-332 is currently under investigation and is not approved for clinical use. All information presented is based on preclinical research.