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← Compounds

alpha-MSH

peptide · comparatorNot approved

Melanocortin agonist; proinflammatory in human mast cells (MRGPRX2)

Summary

Alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. NOT a lead therapy here — flagged primarily as a CAUTION: full α-MSH is proinflammatory in human skin mast cells and can trigger histamine release via MRGPRX2. Use the KPV fragment instead of α-MSH itself.

How it works

  • Melanocortin receptor agonism
  • Proinflammatory in human mast cells (MRGPRX2)

Dosing

    Cycling

      Side effects

      common: []
      warnings: ["MRGPRX2-mediated mast-cell degranulation — avoid in MCAS"]

      Verified citations

      2 · PubMed-checked
      • Anti-inflammatory actions of the neuroimmunomodulator alpha-MSH.reviewPMID 9078687 ↗
      • Alpha-MSH contributes to an anti-inflammatory response to lipopolysaccharide.mechanismPMID 38992428 ↗

      Used for

      !

      Contraindication — Cationic peptides can worsen MCAS (MRGPRX2 degranulation)

      LL-37, VIP/PACAP and full α-MSH degranulate human mast cells via MRGPRX2 — avoid in mast-cell patients. KPV is safe (NF-κB pathway).

      Legal / compounding

      Not approved

      Legal status is a hard gate: non-compoundable or delisted agents cannot be filled and are blocked from protocol export. Keep 503A status current.