Interesting research
Hexapeptide-11
INCI: Hexapeptide-11 · also FVAPFP, Peptamide 6
A six-amino-acid peptide, Phe-Val-Ala-Pro-Phe-Pro, originally isolated from yeast fermentation and now made to high purity. In Mixed Signals it is paired with copper tripeptide-1 in one complex from our lab.
Why it is here
It has one good paper on what it does inside skin cells, which is more than most peptides on a label can say. It switches on Nrf2, the cell's own stress-defense program, and the machinery that clears damaged proteins, and it protected cells from stress-induced premature senescence. The same paper measured improved elasticity in human subjects. Interesting tier: real biology, and a human elasticity measurement to go with it.
Nrf2 is the transcription factor that turns on a cell's antioxidant and detoxifying genes. In human diploid fibroblasts, Hexapeptide-11 increased nuclear Nrf2, induced proteasome, autophagy and chaperone genes, raised proteasome activity and protected cells against oxidative-stress-induced senescence. A separate in vitro paper reports that it reversibly lowers ATM and p53 expression, the checkpoint that pushes stressed cells into senescence, at 0.1 to 1 percent in fibroblasts and dermal papilla cells.
The receipts
Hexapeptide-11 activated proteasome, autophagy, chaperone and antioxidant response genes, increased nuclear Nrf2 and protected fibroblasts against oxidative-stress-induced premature senescence; in skin deformation assays in human subjects it improved skin elasticity.
Hexapeptide-11 is a novel modulator of the proteostasis network in human diploid fibroblasts. Redox Biology, 2015. in vitro, human diploid fibroblasts, plus in vivo skin deformation assays. PMID 25974626
Hexapeptide-11 reversibly down-regulated ATM and p53 expression in intrinsically and extrinsically aged fibroblasts and in dermal papilla cells at 0.1 to 1.0 percent, delaying the onset of senescence in vitro.
Modulation of cellular senescence in fibroblasts and dermal papillae cells in vitro. Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2013. in vitro; authors from the ingredient's supplier. PMID 23578831
What the study actually did
- Study
- Sklirou AD, Ralli M, Dominguez M, et al. Hexapeptide-11 is a novel modulator of the proteostasis network in human diploid fibroblasts. 2015.
- Journal
- Redox Biology 5:205-215
- Design
- In vitro cell studies plus in vivo skin deformation assays
- Subjects
- Human diploid skin and lung fibroblasts; human subjects for the elasticity assay
- Concentration
- Dose- and time-dependent series in culture
- Duration
- Varies by assay
- Outcome
- Nrf2 activation, proteasome and autophagy gene induction, protection from premature senescence; improved skin elasticity in subjects
In practice
- Typical use
- Supplied as part of a peptide complex at 1 percent and up of the formula; the peptide itself is a small fraction of that.
- Pairs with
- Copper Tripeptide-1, Niacinamide, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
- Keep apart from
- Strong chelators such as EDTA in the same formula, which strip the copper from its partner peptide. Ours has none.
- Cautions
- None notable.
Questions people ask
Does Hexapeptide-11 activate sirtuins?
Not in the paper. The 2015 study measured Nrf2 and the proteostasis network; sirtuins were not assayed. You will see the sirtuin claim around the internet. It is not in the data.
Is it the same as Argireline?
No. Argireline is acetyl hexapeptide-8, a different six-amino-acid peptide with a different job. Same length, different letters.