TL;DR

• Peptides are short chains of amino acids (2–50) that act as messengers, hormones, and regulators in the body.
• Naturally present in food, tissues, and signalling pathways; synthetic peptides are widely used in medicine and anti-ageing therapies.
• Applications span hormonal regulation (insulin, GLP-1), tissue repair (BPC-157, GHK-Cu), growth and muscle (GH secretagogues), and skin health (collagen peptides).
• In longevity science, peptides are studied for DNA repair, senescence modulation, mitochondrial health, and anti-inflammatory properties.
• They offer precision interventions but require careful dosing, medical supervision, and quality control.

At-a-Glance Facts

• Entity Type: Biomolecule / Therapeutic Agent
• Definition: Short chain of amino acids linked by peptide bonds
• Size: 2–50 amino acids (longer chains = proteins)
• Functions: Hormonal signalling, enzymatic activity, cellular communication, structural support
• Hallmarks of Ageing Impacted: Loss of proteostasis, stem cell exhaustion, mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular senescence

What are Peptides?

Peptides are mini-proteins — small enough to penetrate tissues, bind to receptors, and trigger specific biological responses.

• Endogenous Peptides: Naturally produced by the body (e.g., insulin, oxytocin, glucagon).
• Nutritional Peptides: Derived from diet (e.g., collagen peptides, bioactive milk peptides).
• Synthetic Peptides: Created for targeted therapy in medicine and anti-ageing.

They serve as signals and building blocks, orchestrating growth, repair, metabolism, and immunity.

Peptides and Ageing

Peptides are integral to longevity research because they:

• Support Repair: DNA repair peptides, wound-healing peptides.
• Combat Senescence: Peptides that reduce SASP factors or stimulate cell renewal.
• Boost Mitochondria: Some peptides (like MOTS-c) regulate energy metabolism.
• Promote Proteostasis: Help maintain protein quality control.
• Affect Hormones: GH secretagogues restore declining growth hormone with age.

Hallmarks of Ageing Impacted

• Proteostasis: Collagen and signalling peptides improve protein turnover.
• Senescence: Modulate inflammation and SASP.
• Mitochondria: Peptides like SS-31 support mitochondrial function.
• Stem Cell Exhaustion: Peptides may enhance regenerative capacity.

Biological Functions & Mechanisms

• Hormonal Control: Peptides like insulin and GLP-1 regulate blood sugar.
• Cellular Repair: GHK-Cu aids in skin and tissue regeneration.
• Immune Modulation: Thymic peptides regulate immunity.
• Metabolic Regulation: MOTS-c and humanin affect energy and mitochondrial health.
• Neuroprotection: Peptides support brain resilience and cognitive function.

Examples of Peptides in Longevity & Health

• GHK-Cu (Copper Peptide): Skin repair, collagen synthesis, wound healing.
• BPC-157: Tissue regeneration, gut and joint repair.
• Epitalon: Telomere length regulation, antioxidant.
• Thymosin Alpha-1 / Thymosin Beta-4: Immune function and tissue repair.
• MOTS-c: Mitochondrial peptide improving metabolism.
• SS-31 (Elamipretide): Protects mitochondria from oxidative damage.
• Collagen Peptides: Support skin elasticity, joint, and bone health.
• GLP-1 Analogues (Semaglutide): Diabetes and weight control, strong metabolic benefits.

Peptides in Medicine & Longevity Research

• Approved Therapies: Insulin, GLP-1 drugs, calcitonin, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues.
• Experimental: Epitalon, MOTS-c, SS-31, BPC-157 in regenerative medicine.
• Anti-Ageing Clinics: Increasingly offer peptide protocols, though regulation varies by region.

Safety and Considerations

• Purity Matters: Risks of contamination or poor-quality synthesis in unregulated sources.
• Side Effects: Hormonal peptides may disrupt endocrine balance.
• Long-Term Data: Limited for many experimental peptides.
• Medical Supervision: Essential for peptides beyond dietary supplements.

Discovery and Research History

• 1920s: Discovery of insulin, the first peptide hormone therapy.
• 20th Century: Expansion into therapeutic peptides for hormones, immunity, and growth.
• 2000s–Present: Explosion of research in bioactive, regenerative, and longevity peptides.
• Today: Over 80 peptide drugs approved globally, hundreds in clinical trials.

FAQs

What’s the difference between peptides and proteins?
Proteins are longer (>50 amino acids); peptides are shorter and often signalling molecules.

Are peptide supplements effective?
Collagen and certain bioactive peptides have evidence; many experimental peptides are still under study.

Do peptides extend lifespan?
Some peptides (like Epitalon, SS-31, MOTS-c) show lifespan effects in animal models, but not proven in humans.

Are peptides legal?
Approved medical peptides are legal; many anti-ageing peptides are research-only or restricted.

Glossary

• Peptide Bond: Chemical link between amino acids.
• GH Secretagogue: Peptide stimulating growth hormone release.
• Mitochondrial Peptides: Small proteins encoded by mitochondrial DNA (e.g., humanin).
• Senolytic Peptides: Peptides designed to target senescent cells.

About the Author & Review

• Author: [Editorial byline]
• Medical Reviewer: [Reviewer, MD/PhD]
• Last Updated: 25 August 2025

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Cross-Linking (Knowledge Graph Anchors)

From this page, link internally to:

• GHK-Cu (copper peptide for skin)
• Epitalon (telomere-related peptide)
• MOTS-c / SS-31 (mitochondrial peptides)
• Collagen (structural peptides for skin & joints)
• Senescence & Senolytics (peptides reducing SASP or clearing senescent cells)
• Rapamycin, mTOR, AMPK (nutrient sensing pathways peptides may influence)
• Hallmarks of Ageing (peptides intersect multiple hallmarks)