In vitro transdermal delivery of a melanotropic peptide through human skin.

A superpotent analogue of alpha-MSH, (Nle4,D-Phe7)-alpha-MSH, when applied topically to mice induces darkening of follicular melanocytes throughout the skin. In vitro studies have demonstrated delivery of the peptide across mouse but not rat skin. This variation in permeability of skin of animal models prompted us to use human skin in vitro. The melanotropin was applied to the surface of human skin samples through a permeation apparatus and allowed to penetrate for 24 h at 36 degrees C. Passage of the analogue was shown by both bioassay and radioimmunoassay. These assays correlated well and demonstrated both the presence and the biologic integrity of the peptide after transdermal passage. Regional differences were noted in the degree of transdermal penetration. In addition, split thickness skin allowed greater penetration suggesting dermal binding of the hormone. This study is the first to show that a melanotropic peptide can be delivered transdermally through human skin in vitro. This has potential importance in the development of therapies for hypopigmentary disorders and for the stimulation of skin tanning without ultraviolet light.

Potent and prolonged melanotropic activities of the alpha-MSH fragment analog, Ac-[Nle4,D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH4-9-NH2.

Ac-[Nle4, D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH4-9-NH2 and Ac-[Nle4]-alpha-MSH4-9-NH2, fragment analogs of the tridecapeptide, alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH, alpha-melanotropin), were synthesized. The potency and prolonged activity of the analogs were compared to alpha-MSH in several melanotropin bioassays. The D-Phe-containing hexapeptide was 10 times more active than alpha-MSH in stimulating melanoma tyrosinase activity. This analog was also 10-fold more potent than alpha-MSH in the lizard skin bioassay and about 10-fold less active in the frog skin bioassay. The melanotropic activity of Ac-[Nle4, D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH4-9-NH2 was considerably prolonged compared to alpha-MSH in each of the bioassays. These results demonstrate that the structural requirements for superpotency and prolonged activity of [Nle4, D-Phe7]-substituted analogs reside within this hexapeptide sequence.

Long-term and residual melanotropin-stimulated tyrosinase activity in S91 melanoma cells is density dependent.

Cell density is a factor that affects the capacity of Cloudman S91 melanoma cells to respond to melanotropins in monolayer culture. Continuous exposure of melanoma cells to alpha-melanotropin or its potent analog [Nle4, D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH, resulted in maximal stimulation of tyrosinase after 2 d of treatment, but the magnitude of stimulation decreased thereafter despite the continued presence of the melanotropins. However, when melanoma cells continually exposed to melanotropins were subcultured to an initial low cell density and maintained in contact with alpha-MSH or [Nle4, D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH (long-term culture), tyrosinase activity was rapidly restored and greatly enhanced. Also, when cells were seeded at initial densities ranging from 0.2 to 3.2 X 10(6) cells/flask, and exposed for 24 h to 10(-7) M alpha-MSH, only the cultures seeded at low densities (0.2 and 0.4 X 10(6) cells/flask) exhibited maximal tyrosinase activity during the 24 h exposure to the melanotropins. Therefore, tyrosinase activity was primarily affected by cell density rather than by the duration of time the cells were in culture or by continuous exposure to melanotropin. Other flasks of various cell densities were treated with 10(-7) M alpha-MSH or [Nle4, D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH for 24 h, followed by removal of the melanotropins from the culture medium. The magnitude and duration of the residual stimulation of melanoma tyrosinase activity by melanotropins were also found to be dependent on the initial cell density. These results reveal that there is a limited range of optimal cell densities at which melanoma cells can respond to melanotropins and express increased tyrosinase activity.

Prolonged stimulation of S91 melanoma tyrosinase by [Nle4, D-Phe7]-substituted alpha-melanotropins.

alpha-Melanotropin (alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone, alpha-MSH) stimulates tyrosinase activity in Cloudman S91 murine melanoma cells. Three [Nle4, D-Phe7]-substituted alpha-melanotropin analogues, [Nle4, D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH, Ac-[Nle4, D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH4-11-NH2, and Ac-[Nle4, D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH4-10-NH2, are at least 100-fold more effective than alpha-MSH in stimulating melanoma tyrosinase, the rate-limiting enzyme in melanin biosynthesis. These [Nle4, D-Phe7]-substituted melanotropin analogues induce tyrosinase activity in melanoma cells with shorter contact times than required by the native hormone, alpha-MSH. [Nle4, D-Phe7]-substituted melanotropins also induce a prolonged (residual) stimulation of melanoma tyrosinase. Following incubation of melanoma cells in the presence of [Nle4, D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH for 24 h, tyrosinase activity is maintained for up to 6 days in the absence of the melanotropin. The shorter 4-10 and 4-11 fragment analogues also exhibit residual melanotropic activity. The prolonged stimulation of tyrosinase in the absence of the analogues is maintained even though melanoma cells continue to divide about every 24 h. These results suggest that melanoma cells possess spare melanotropin receptors and that [Nle4, D-Phe7]-substituted analogues bind almost irreversibly to these receptors or to some other component of the adenylate cyclase enzyme complex responsible for enhancing tyrosinase activity and melanin production.

Stimulation of S91 melanoma tyrosinase activity by superpotent alpha-melanotropins.

alpha-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH, alpha-melanotropin), [Nle4,D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH and related fragment analogues, Ac-[Nle4,D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH4-11-NH2 and Ac-[Nle4,D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH4-10-NH2, were studied for their ability to stimulate tyrosinase activity in Cloudman S91 mouse melanoma cells in tissue culture. All of the melanotropins stimulated tyrosinase activity in a dose-dependent manner. [Nle4,D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH was about 100 times more active than alpha-MSH as determined from the minimal effective dose (MED) required to activate the enzyme above control (basal) levels. The MED of this analogue to significantly stimulate tyrosinase activity at 24, 48 and 72 h of incubation was 10(-11) M whereas the MED of alpha-MSH was 10(-9) M at each of these times. The maximum tyrosinase activity achieved from the time of initial incubation in the presence of [Nle4,D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH was approximately 3-, 5- and 6-fold greater than control levels at 24, 48 and 72 h, respectively. The 2 [Nle4,D-Phe7]-substituted fragment analogues were at least as active as the tridecapeptide analogue and therefore at least 100-fold more active than alpha-MSH in stimulating enzyme activity. These [Nle4,D-Phe7]-substituted analogues were more active in the melanoma tyrosinase assay than in the melanoma adenylate cyclase assay or other normal melanocyte (frog and lizard skin) bioassays.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of the superagonist [N alpha-chlorotriazinylaminofluorescein-Ser1,Nle4,D-Phe7]-al pha-MSH.

The fluorescein-labeled melanotropin [N alpha-chlorotriazinylaminofluorescein-Ser1,Nle4,D-Phe 7]-alpha-MSH, was prepared by solid-phase techniques of peptide synthesis. The biological actions of this analogue were determined in several melanocyte bioassays and were compared with the parent peptide [Nle4,D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH and the native hormone alpha-MSH. The fluorescein compound was a superpotent agonist with approximately 10 times more activity than alpha-MSH in both the frog and the lizard skin bioassays. Murine S91 melanoma cells assayed in vitro (tyrosinase bioassay) were as responsive to the fluorescein analogue as to alpha-MSH. The analogue exhibited ultraprolonged biological activity and the biological activities were unaffected by treatment of the analogue with alpha-chymotrypsin. The fluorescein-labeled melanotropin should prove useful for melanotropin receptor characterization.

Dexamethasone and zinc in combination inhibit the anchorage-independent growth of S-91 Cloudman murine melanoma.

Zinc inhibited the colony formation of Cloudman S-91 murine melanoma cells in a dose dependent manner with an ID50 of 3.4 ug/ml. Total inhibition of the melanoma colony-forming units occurred at a zinc concentration of 4.42 ug/ml. In the presence of dexamethasone the ID50 for zinc inhibition was reduced by 49% and total inhibition of anchorage-independent growth occurred at the achievable in vivo zinc concentration of 3.0 ug/ml. Dexamethasone and zinc in combination effected a greater than additive inhibition of the murine melanoma colony-forming units. Statistical evaluation of these results showed that zinc and dexamethasone interacted synergistically to inhibit the formation of murine melanoma colonies.

[Nle4, D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH: a superpotent melanotropin that "irreversibly" activates melanoma tyrosinase.

The superpotent and ultraprolonged melanotropic properties of an alpha-melanotropin analog, [Nle4, D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH, were investigated in a Cloudman S91 (CCL 53.1) melanoma cell line. [Nle4, D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH is 100-fold more effective than the native hormone, alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH), in stimulating melanoma cell tyrosinase activity, as determined from their minimum effective doses (10(-11)M and 10(-9)M, respectively). [Nle4, D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH also exhibits a more sustained effect than alpha-MSH on tyrosinase after removal of the melanotropins from the incubation medium. When cells were exposed to alpha-MSH (10(-7)M) for 24 h, residual activity after removal of the hormone was minimally significant. In contrast, under the same experimental conditions [Nle4, D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH treatment induced tyrosinase activity 2-3 fold above basal level, and maintained remarkable stimulatory effects up to 72 h following melanotropin removal. When the exposure time to melanotropins was reduced to 4 h, alpha-MSH failed to elicit significant tyrosinase activity, whereas [Nle4, D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH stimulated significant tyrosinase activity during the first 24 h subsequent to melanotropin removal. Interestingly, this stimulation by the analog increased at 48 h, reached a maximum at 72 h following removal of the melanotropin analog, and remained significantly stimulated for 6 consecutive days in the absence of the analog.