alpha-msh

Undecylenoyl phenylalanine (Sepiwhite msh QD) is a novel depigmenting agent, which possibly acts as an alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone antagonist, thus inhibiting melaninogenesis.

α-MSH (MSH, amide) is amide stimulates melanocortin 1 receptor that results in the activation of adenylyl cyclase.

Bremelanotide is a synthetic peptide analog of alpha-MSH and is an agonist at melanocortin receptors including the MC3R and MC4R.

α-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) is a 13-amino acid peptide hormone produced by post-translational processing of proopiomelanocortin (POMC) in the pituitary gland, as well as in keratinocytes, astrocytes, monocytes, and gastrointestinal cells.1It is an agonist of melanocortin receptor 3 (MC3R) and MC4R that induces cAMP production in Hepa cells expressing the human receptors (EC50s = 0.16 and 56 nM, respectively).2α-MSH (100 pM) reducesS. aureuscolony formation andC. albicansgerm tube formationin vitro.3It inhibits endotoxin-, ceramide-, TNF-α-, or okadaic acid-induced activation of NF-κB in U937 cells.1α-MSH reduces IL-6- or TNF-α-induced ear edema in mice.4It also prevents the development of adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats and increases survival in a mouse model of septic shock. Increased plasma levels of α-MSH are positively correlated with delayed disease progression and reduced death in patients with HIV.1 1.Catania, A., Airaghi, L., Colombo, G., et al.α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone in normal human physiology and disease statesTrends Endocrinol. Metab.11(8)304-308(2000) 2.Miwa, H., Gantz, I., Konda, Y., et al.Structural determinants of the melanocortin peptides required for activation of melanocortin-3 and melanocortin-4 receptorsJ. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther.273(1)367-372(1995) 3.Cutuli, M., Cristiani, S., Lipton, J.M., et al.Antimicrobial effects of a-MSH peptidesJ. Leukoc. Biol.67(2)233-239(2000) 4.Lipton, J.M., Ceriani, G., Macaluso, A., et al.Antiiinflammatory effect of the neuropeptide a-MSH in acute, chronic, and systemic inflammationAnn. N.Y. Acad. Sci.25(741)137-148(1994)

Melanotan I is a non-specific melanocortin receptor (MCR) agonist, an α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) analog, which is injected subcutaneously to increase the amount of melanin in the skin Melanotan I is used as an adjunct to tanning Melanotan I has been used for the prevention of sunlight-induced skin cancers Melanotan I has been used in the study of melanoma and for male erectile dysfunction Melanotan I may be used to prevent sun-induced skin cancer and may be used to study melanoma and male erectile dysfunction.