Alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone as topical anti-inflammatory agent for the treatment of allergic contact dermatitis and eczema
A method is presented for treating an inflammatory skin disorder in a human comprising: topically applying to the skin a composition comprising alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (αMSH) or an αMSH analog in an amount effective to reduce skin inflammation in the human.
1. A method of treating an inflammatory skin disorder in a human comprising:
topically applying to the skin a composition comprising alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (αMSH) or an αMSH analogue in an amount effective to reduce skin inflammation in the human;
wherein the composition comprises at least 30% 2-(2-ethoxyethoxy)ethanol and at least 5% NMP;
wherein the αMSH analogue comprises KPV, dKPV, KPdV, dKPdV, KPT, or [Nle4,d-Ph7]αMSH; and
wherein the αMSH or αMSH analogue is optionally N-acetylated on its N-terminus or C-amidated on its C terminus, or both, or circularized.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the inflammatory skin disorder is allergic contact dermatitis.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the inflammatory skin disorder is an eczematous inflammatory disorder.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the inflammatory disorder is atopic dermatitis.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the composition comprises αMSH.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the composition comprises 0.1% to 0.5% αMSH (w/v).
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the composition comprises an MSH analogue comprising a peptide at least 84% identical to SYSMEHFRWGKPV (SEQ ID NO:1).
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the composition comprises an MSH analogue and the MSH analogue comprises KPV, dKPV, KPdV, dKPdV, KPT, or [Nle4,d-Ph7]αMSH.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the composition comprises an MSH analogue and the MSH analogue is a compound that binds to the melanocortin receptors with at least 10% of the affinity of αMSH, and activates the melanocortin receptors with at least 25% of the activity of αMSH.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein application of the composition to rat skin gives retention of at least 0.75 mg αMSH per mg of epidermis in a Franz diffusion cell permeation assay.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein the composition is more effective than 0.1% tacrolimus ointment in reducing ear thickness 96 hours after challenge with hapten in an allergic contact dermatitis assay with mouse ears.
12. The method of claim 1 wherein the composition comprises an αMSH analogue, wherein the αMSH analogue consists of KPV, dKPV, KPdV, dKPdV, KPT, or [Nle4,d-Ph7]αMSH.