Chromatography Purification Isolates Fish Peptide for Eczema Relief

Atopic dermatitis (AD), commonly known as eczema, is a complex skin condition where a damaged skin barrier and an overactive immune system work together to cause ongoing skin inflammation and irritation. Because of their wide range of health-related effects, peptides (small chains of amino acids) derived from marine sources have been getting more attention as potential treatments that could help calm down inflammation and regulate immune responses. In a study by researchers at Dankook University in South Korea, a new peptide called WPN-15 was discovered. It was extracted from leftover tail parts of walleye pollock fish (a byproduct usually thrown away during processing) by breaking down the proteins using enzymes. The researchers then used a step-by-step purification process (including fast protein liquid chromatography-gel permeation chromatography [FPLC-GPC], reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography [RP-HPLC], and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry [ESI-MS]) to isolate and confirm the exact structure of this promising peptide. Their findings were published in the journal Pharmaceutics.¹

What is Atopic Dermatitis?

AE is a long-lasting skin condition caused by immune system problems. It leads to repeated flare-ups of itchy, inflamed skin along with a weakened skin barrier that does not protect the body as well as it should. AE affects people of all ages, showing up in roughly 15-20% of children and 5-10% of adults around the world, and is becoming more common in both wealthier and developing countries alike.^2,3 Beyond just affecting the skin, AE also takes a toll on people's lives and finances. Because flare-ups tend to come back repeatedly, they can seriously disrupt everyday life and often require ongoing, long-term treatment to keep under control.⁴AE develops through a complicated mix of factors working together, including genes passed down from parents, a weakened skin barrier, exposure to environmental triggers, imbalances in skin bacteria, and immune system problems.⁵

Does WPN-15 Reduce Inflammation and Eczema-Like Skin Symptoms, and How Might It Work?

The researchers first tested whether WPN-15 could reduce inflammation using immune cells (macrophages) grown in a laboratory dish and triggered to become inflamed. They then tested it in living mice with skin irritation designed to mimic eczema, caused by applying an irritating chemical to their skin.¹

In the laboratory dish tests, WPN-15 significantly reduced the production of nitric oxide, a molecule associated with inflammation, in the triggered immune cells, and, importantly, it did this without harming or killing the cells.¹

When applied directly to the skin of mice with eczema-like irritation, WPN-15 noticeably improved the condition of their skin, reduced the severity of the irritation based on standard scoring methods, and lowered blood levels of a signaling protein tied to inflammation (IL-6). Closer examination under the microscope also showed that WPN-15 reduced skin thickening, excessive skin cell growth, and the buildup of immune cells associated with allergic reactions.¹

Finally, the researchers found that WPN-15 reduced the activity of certain inflammation-related genes (IL-1β and IL-6) and blocked the activation of a protein called STAT3, which plays a key role in inflammation signaling. This suggests that WPN-15 helps calm skin inflammation at least partly by interfering with this specific inflammatory signaling pathway.¹

“These findings,” write the authors of the paper,¹ “demonstrate that walleye pollock tail by-products represent a valuable and sustainable source of bioactive peptides and support the potential application of WPN-15 as a marine-derived therapeutic candidate for the management of AD.”

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References

1. Lee, S. G.; Hwang, J. W.; Kang, H. Isolation and Characterization of a Novel Marine Peptide, WPN-15, from Walleye Pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus) Tail By-Products and Its Therapeutic Effects Against Atopic Dermatitis. Pharmaceutics 2026, 18 (7), 895. DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics18070895
2. Laughter, M. R.; Maymone, M. B. C.; Mashayekhi, S. The Global Burden of Atopic Dermatitis: Lessons from the Global Burden of Disease Study 1990-2017. Br J Dermatol. 2021, 184 (2), 304-309. DOI: 10.1111/bjd.19580
3. Weidinger, S.; Beck, L. A.; Bieber, T. et al. Atopic Dermatitis. Nat Rev Dis Primers 2018, 4 (1), 1. DOI: 10.1038/s41572-018-0001-z
4. Silverberg, J. I. Public Health Burden and Epidemiology of Atopic Dermatitis. Dermatol Clin. 2017, 35 (3), 283-289. DOI: 10.1016/j.det.2017.02.002
5. Ahn, K. The Role of Air Pollutants in Atopic Dermatitis. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2014, 134 (5), 993-999. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2014.09.023