2026-08-05 カロリンスカ研究所（KI）
＜関連情報＞
- https://news.ki.se/neanderthal-gene-variant-may-increase-muscle-mass-in-people-living-today-today
- https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(26)00890-0
ネアンデルタール人の成長ホルモン受容体のシグナル伝達の増加 Increased signaling of the Neanderthal growth hormone receptor
Philipp Kanis ∙ Miriam Berreiter ∙ Daniel Sieme ∙ … ∙ Svante Pääbo, ∙ Andrew J. Brooks ∙ Hugo Zeberg
Current Biology Published:August 5, 2026
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2026.07.025
Highlights
- Neanderthals had two amino acid changes in the growth hormone receptor
- One amino acid change drives faster cell growth and stronger STAT5 signaling
- A DNA segment encoding the Neanderthal receptor entered modern humans via admixture
- Carriers have greater muscle mass and some Neanderthal-like craniofacial traits
Summary
Neanderthals had a robust build and distinctive skeletal features. The hypothalamic-pituitary-somatotropic (HPS) axis, with growth hormone (GH) as a central signaling molecule, plays a crucial role in regulating skeletal development. To explore whether Neanderthal-specific genetic variations in the HPS axis contributed to their physical robustness, we examined genes encoding the relevant receptors and hormones. We find that the Neanderthal growth hormone receptor (GHR) carried two amino acid changes and one deletion. When the Neanderthal GHR is expressed in a GH-dependent cell line, the cells proliferate faster than cells expressing the modern human GHR when stimulated by pituitary GH but not by placental GH. We also show that some present-day humans have inherited the gene encoding the Neanderthal GHR. These individuals tend to have more muscle mass and exhibit some craniofacial traits reminiscent of Neanderthals. Thus, aspects of Neanderthal anatomy live on in people today.
