Anti-alopecia effect of Gly-Leu-Phe, an immunostimulating peptide derived from α-lactalbumin

Abstract

Gly-Leu-Phe (GLF), an immunostimulating peptide derived from α-lactalbumin, prevented alopecia induced by an anticancer agent etoposide in a neonatal rat model after intraperitoneal injection at a dose of 100 mg/kg for 4 d or oral administration at a dose of 300 mg/kg for 6 d. By microscopic analysis of skin sections, GLF proved to inhibit etoposide-induced loss of hair, thickening of the epidermis, and thinning of the adipocyte layer. The anti-alopecia effect of GLF was inhibited by pyrilamine, a histamine H 1 receptor antagonist, suggesting that the anti-alopecia effect is mediated by histamine release.