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Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1568-0266
ISSN (Online): 1873-4294

Minireview: Peptide Analogs and Short Sequence Oligopeptides as Modulators of Skin Pigmentation

Author(s): Anan Abu Ubeid and Basil M. Hantash

Volume 14, Issue 12, 2014

Page: [1418 - 1424] Pages: 7

DOI: 10.2174/1568026614666140601221519

Price: $65

Abstract

Short sequence amino acids or oligopeptides have recently garnered attention for use as treatments for a myriad of dermatologic disorders due to their ability to effect and modulate various biological processes in the epidermis and dermis, rendering them promising candidates as medical and cosmeceutical therapeutics. Major advantages include their relative ease of synthesis and multitude of modifications that can be applied to enhance potency, affinity, specificity, hydrophilicity or hydrophobicity and cytotoxicity. Given the photoprotective effects of eumelanin on skin, there has been substantial interest in developing agents, particularly α-MSH analogs, that can induce ‘sunless tanning’ helping reduce risk of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. In this mini review, we present some of the recent and leading peptide modulators of melanogenesis with relevant clinical data and medical indications. Short sequence oligopeptides with tyrosinase inhibitory activity that can significantly reduce hyperpigmentation, as well α-MSH analogs that can enhance eumelanogenesis, are currently being clinically tested for treatment of erythropoietic protoporphyria, polymorphous light eruption, solar urticaria, actinic keratosis, and “sunless tanning”. Success in developing such products can help reduce the incidence of skin cancer, one that surpasses that of all other human cancers combined.

Keywords: α-MSH analogs, hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, melanocortin 1 receptor, melanogenesis, tyrosinase.

Graphical Abstract

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