Tridecactide

**Semantic type:** Amino Acid, Peptide, or Protein|Pharmacologic Substance

**Definition:** A synthetic 13-amino acid peptide analogue of the naturally occurring alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (a-MSH) and derived from proteolytic cleavage of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), with potential analgesia, antipyretic, antioxidative, cytoprotective, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating activities. Upon administration, tridecactide mimics the action of a-MSH, binds to melanocortin receptors (MC-Rs) and stimulates melanocytes to increase the production and release of melanin. In addition, tridecactide's anti-inflammatory effects are through the activation of MC-Rs that are expressed in a number of tissues, such as peripheral immune cells and hypothalamic neurons, and affects various pathways regulating inflammatory responses. Specifically, tridecactide inhibits the activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), inhibits the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and adhesion molecule expression, prevents T-cell proliferation and inflammatory cell migration. This agent may also suppress pro-inflammatory non-cytokine regulators such as nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E (PGE), and reactive oxygen species (ROS), and induces the expression of interleukin (IL) 10.

**Synonyms:** - ACTH (1-13) - EK-12 - TRIDECACTIDE - alpha-1-13-Corticotropin, HumanL-seryl-L-tyrosyl-L-seryl-L-methionyl-L-glutamyl-L-histidyl-L-phenylalanyl-L-arginyl-L-tryptophylglycyl-L-lysyl-L-prolyl-L-valine - alpha-Corticotropin 1-13 - alpha1-13-Corticotropin