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Melanocyte stimulating hormone peptides inhibit TNF-alpha signaling in human dermal fibroblast cells.

Alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) has been identified as a potent anti-inflammatory in various tissues including the skin. It has previously been shown in skin cell keratinocytes and melanocytes/melanoma cells that MSH peptides inhibit TNF-alpha stimulated NF-kappaB activity and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) upregulation. However, the precise anti-inflammatory role of MSH peptides in dermal fibroblasts is unclear. Some studies report on pro-inflammatory responses, while others on anti-inflammatory responses. The present study confirms MC1R expression in cultured human dermal fibroblasts and reports that the MSH peptides alpha-MSH and KP(-D-)V inhibit TNF-alpha stimulated NF-kappaB activity and ICAM-1 upregulation, consistent with an anti-inflammatory role. However, involvement of IkappaB-alpha regulation by either peptide was not confirmed, supporting a mechanism independent of the NF-kappaB inhibitor. In conclusion, alpha-MSH and KP(-D-)V peptides have an anti-inflammatory action on dermal fibroblast signaling by inhibiting the pro-inflammatory activity of TNF-alpha in vitro.