K6PC-5 is a sphingosine kinase 1 (SPHK1) activator.^1,2,3It activates SPHK1 in F9-12 teratocarcinoma cell lysates and isolated murine blood in a concentration-dependent manner.¹K6PC-5 (25 and 50 µM) induces calcium oscillations in HaCaT keratinocytes. It inhibits cell death induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells when used at a concentration of 10 µM.²Topical administration of K6PC-5 (1%) increases stratum corneum integrity and corneodesmosome density in a mouse model of photoaging induced by long-term exposure to ultraviolet A (UVA) and UVB radiation.³

1.Hong, J.H., Youm, J.K., Kwon, M.J., et al.K6PC-5, a direct activator of sphingosine kinase 1, promotes epidermal differentiation through intracellular Ca2+ signalingJ. Invest. Dermatol.1282166-2178(2008) 2.Liu, H., Zhang, Z., Xu, M., et al.K6PC-5 activates SphK1-Nrf2 signaling to protect neuronal cells from oxygen glucose deprivation/re-oxygenationCell Physiol. Biochem.51(4)1908-1920(2018) 3.Park, H.-y., Youm, J.-K., Kwon, M.J., et al.K6PC-5, a novel sphingosine kinase activator, improves long-term ultraviolet light-exposed aged murine skinExp. Dermatol.17(1)829-836(2008)