Pentapeptide-3V (Vialox) – An Antagonist of Nicotinic Acetylcholine (ACHR)

Vialox, also termed Pentapeptide-3V, is a peptide developed from snake venom. It has similar effects to Botox, causing muscle paralysis partially, resulting in a decreased prevalence of wrinkles and lines.^[1]

Anti-aging trials after 28 days of Pentapeptide-3V administration twice daily prove that the peptide reduces wrinkles in approximately 50% of the test subjects and reduces skin roughness in about 47% of the test subjects.^[2]
 

 Pentapeptide-3V and its Functions

• Pentapeptide-3V prevents muscle contraction by exhibiting a curare-like effect at the neuromuscular junction, disallowing the nervous system signals from reaching the muscles.
• Pentapeptide-3V is of primary interest because of its influential ability to communicate between muscles and nerves.
• Pentapeptide-3V affects the signal transmission between nerves and muscles. In normal conditions, signals are transmitted following the release of acetylcholine from its axon by nerves. Contraction occurs following the conduction of acetylcholine across the neuromuscular junction to bind to a receptor on the muscle. Pentapeptide-3V halts contraction by binding to the AChR.^[3] By doing this, it blocks acetylcholine from binding. This will result in a reduced amount of acetylcholine binding and reduced strength and number of muscle contractions.
• Acetylcholine binds to a muscle receptor, limiting sodium ion release at the neuromuscular junction. Depolarization occurs, resulting in electrical pulses that cause wrinkles and muscle contraction. By binding to AChR, Pentapeptide-3V inhibits this process. When Pentapeptide-3V binds to AChR, it inhibits acetylcholine binding.
• Pentapeptide-3V only affects peripheral AChRs and does not affect central neuronal receptors. Unlike the other nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonists. This shows that Pentapeptide-3V only acts on the neuromuscular junction, which makes it of high value to cosmetic companies but also helpful in spastic conditions like migraine headaches, tension headaches, facial spasms, etc.
• Pentapeptide-3V also inhibits the contraction of muscles responsible for facial expression, forcing them to relax. This then imitates wrinkles, such as crow’s feet around the eyes, and expression lines, like those on the forehead, are forced to relax.
• The overall result of Pentapeptide-3V activity is a reduction in acetylcholine binding as the reduction in the frequency and intensity of muscular contractions.^[4] This effect has been observed with various snake venoms, botulinum toxin injections, tubocurarine, curare toxin, and Botox.
• Pentapeptide-3V can reduce average skin roughness by 11% and relief by 8%. Because relief is proportional to wrinkle size, Vialox can reduce wrinkles by an average of 8%. These are in approximately 60% and 47% of the animal subjects examined. According to Reddy et al. “this product is effective in smoothing periorbital, forehead and nasolabial fold expression wrinkles and provides an immediate tightening effect to the skin. Its recommended concentration is 0.05–0.3%”^[5]
• Pentapeptide-3V, a protein composed of lysine, threonine, and serine, is the most abundant protein in skin collagen. It works directly on the dermis to stimulate collagen production while tightening the skin. When combined with other ingredients, Vialox can hasten skin tightening and lifting.
• Anti-aging medications such as Vitamin A, according to studies conducted by medical specialists in the Department of Dermatology, show that Pentapeptide-3V can increase collagen growth, thereby improving skin compaction. Pentapeptide-3V can stimulate collagen production in the skin, reversing aging and minimizing wrinkles.
• Vialox can improve the production of melanin, a skin pigment, which can protect the skin against sun damage.

Disclaimer: The products mentioned are not intended for human or animal consumption. Research chemicals are intended solely for laboratory experimentation and/or in-vitro testing. Bodily introduction of any sort is strictly prohibited by law. All purchases are limited to licensed researchers and/or qualified professionals. All information shared in this article is for educational purposes only.

 

References

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1. Servent, D. et al. Only Snake Curaremimetic Toxins with a Fifth Disulfide Bond Have High Affinity for the Neuronal α7 Nicotinic Receptor. J. Biol. Chem. 272, 24279–24286 (1997)
2. Zhmak, M. N., Utkin, Y. N., Andreeva, T. V., Kudryavtsev, D. S., Kryukova, E. V., Tsetlin, V. I., … & Shelukhina, I. V. E. (2017). U.S. Patent No. 9,550,808. Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
3. Schagen, S. K. (2017). Topical peptide treatments with effective anti-aging results. Cosmetics, 4(2), 16.
4. Gupta, V. K. Biotechnology of Bioactive Compounds: Sources and Applications. (John Wiley & Sons, 2015)
5. Reddy, B. Y., Jow, T., & Hantash, B. M. (2012). Bioactive oligopeptides in dermatology: Part II. Experimental dermatology, 21(8), 569-575.

Disclaimer: The products mentioned are not for human or animal consumption. All the information shared in this article is for educational purposes only.