Alpha-MSH is a tridecapeptide derived from proopiomelanocortin. Many studies over the last few years have provided evidence that alpha-MSH has potent protective and antiinflammatory effects. These effects can be elicited via centrally expressed melanocortin receptors that orchestrate descending neurogenic antiinflammatory pathways. alpha-MSH can also exert antiinflammatory and protective effects on cells of the immune system and on peripheral nonimmune cell types expressing melanocortin receptors. At the molecular level, alpha-MSH affects various pathways implicated in regulation of inflammation and protection, i.e., nuclear factor-kappaB activation, expression of adhesion molecules and chemokine receptors, production of proinflammatory cytokines and mediators, IL-10 synthesis, T cell proliferation and activity, inflammatory cell migration, expression of antioxidative enzymes, and apoptosis. The antiinflammatory effects of alpha-MSH have been validated in animal models of experimentally induced fever; irritant and allergic contact dermatitis, vasculitis, and fibrosis; ocular, gastrointestinal, brain, and allergic airway inflammation; and arthritis, but also in models of organ injury. One obstacle limiting the use of alpha-MSH in inflammatory disorders is its pigmentary effect. Due to its preserved antiinflammatory effect but lack of pigmentary action, the C-terminal tripeptide of alpha-MSH, KPV, has been delineated as an alternative for antiinflammatory therapy. KdPT, a derivative of KPV corresponding to amino acids 193-195 of IL-1beta, is also emerging as a tripeptide with antiinflammatory effects. The physiochemical properties and expected low costs of production render both agents suitable for the future treatment of immune-mediated inflammatory skin and bowel disease, fibrosis, allergic and inflammatory lung disease, ocular inflammation, and arthritis.

中文翻译：

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刺激α-黑素细胞的激素和相关三肽：生物化学，体外和体内的抗炎和保护作用，以及治疗免疫介导的炎性疾病的未来前景。

Alpha-MSH是衍生自proopiomelanocortin的三肽。最近几年的许多研究已经提供了证据，表明α-MSH具有有效的保护和抗炎作用。这些作用可通过协调表达下降的神经源性抗炎途径的中枢表达的黑皮质素受体引起。α-MSH还可以对免疫系统的细胞以及表达黑皮质素受体的外周非免疫细胞类型发挥抗炎和保护作用。在分子水平上，α-MSH影响涉及炎症和保护调节的各种途径，即核因子-κB活化，粘附分子和趋化因子受体的表达，促炎性细胞因子和介质的产生，IL-10合成，T细胞增殖和活性，炎性细胞迁移，抗氧化酶的表达和凋亡。α-MSH的抗炎作用已在实验性发烧的动物模型中得到验证；刺激性和过敏性接触性皮炎，血管炎和纤维化；眼，胃肠道，脑和过敏性气道炎症；和关节炎，但也有器官损伤的模型。限制在炎症性疾病中使用α-MSH的障碍之一是其色素作用。由于其保留的抗炎作用但缺乏色素作用，因此已将α-MSH的C端三肽（KPV）描述为抗炎治疗的替代方法。KdPT是KPV的衍生物，它对应于IL-1β的193-195位氨基酸，也正在出现具有抗炎作用的三肽。