Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 (Pal-GQPR, trade name Rigin) is a synthetic lipid-linked tetrapeptide based on a fragment of immunoglobulin G, used as a cosmetic ingredient. Peer-reviewed data are sparse and mostly come from reviews and combination products.
Reviews report that in cell culture Pal-GQPR lowers basal and UVB-induced interleukin-6 (IL-6) secretion [1][2]. A further proposed effect is downstream support of dermal matrix proteins (laminins, collagen VII) [3]. These findings trace largely to supplier data; independent primary cell studies were not located.
| Study | Model | Reported result | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dermal matrix imaging study [4] | Human Volunteers; combination with palmitoyl oligopeptide; reflectance confocal microscopy, echography, MALDI imaging, histology | Researchers examined dermal extracellular matrix and epidermal-dermal junction structure. Published. | Peer-reviewed J Cosmet Dermatol 2015 |
| Trending peptides review [1] | Review Narrative review | Lists IL-6 reduction after UVB exposure in lab models as the main reported activity. | Peer-reviewed Cosmetics 2020 |
| Topical peptide review [2] | Review Narrative review | Describes IL-6 data and combination-product studies; notes no peptide-alone controlled trial. | Peer-reviewed Cosmetics 2017 |
| Bioactive oligopeptides review [5] | Review Narrative review | Notes combination with palmitoyl hexapeptide-12 altered ultrasound-measured subepidermal band density in volunteers. | Peer-reviewed J Appl Biomater Funct Mater 2025 |
Human cosmetic studies describe appearance only. Lab results do not establish effects on skin structure.
