ARA-290 Peptide | Cibinetide Research Peptide
ARA-290 is a short synthetic peptide derived from the tissue-protective region of erythropoietin. It is also known as cibinetide, pHBSP, or pyroglutamate helix B surface peptide. The peptide was engineered from the aqueous-facing region of EPO helix B and designed to investigate tissue-protective signaling without reproducing the classical erythropoietic activity associated with the EPO receptor homodimer.
The peptide contains 11 amino acids and begins with a pyroglutamate residue. Its compact structure makes it a useful research tool for examining how a small EPO-derived sequence can interact with tissue-protective signaling systems.
Unlike conventional growth-factor research, ARA-290 research focuses heavily on receptor biology, cellular protection, inflammatory signaling, neural tissue responses, and repair-associated pathways.
Primary Research Classification
ARA-290 is best classified as a synthetic EPO-derived research peptide and non-erythropoietic peptide ligand.
Key research characteristics include:
- 11-amino-acid synthetic peptide
- Derived from the three-dimensional structure of erythropoietin
- Also known as cibinetide and pHBSP
- Pyroglutamate-containing peptide
- Investigated as a ligand for the proposed innate repair receptor
- Associated with erythropoietin receptor (EPOR) and β-common receptor/CD131 biology
- Studied in neural, inflammatory, vascular, renal, and tissue-repair models
Scientific Background
Erythropoietin is widely recognized for its role in red-blood-cell production. However, research has identified distinct tissue-protective effects associated with EPO signaling. This led investigators to examine specific structural regions of EPO that might reproduce tissue-protective activity without stimulating erythropoiesis.
Studies identified the aqueous-facing surface of EPO helix B as an important tissue-protective region. An 11-amino-acid peptide derived from this structural region became known as ARA-290 or pHBSP. Experimental research reported tissue-protective activity in models involving ischemic injury, peripheral nerve trauma, and other forms of tissue stress.
This distinction is central to understanding ARA-290. It is not simply a smaller version of EPO. Its research value comes from examining a particular structural motif and its relationship to tissue-protective signaling.
Molecular Structure and Peptide Sequence
PubChem identifies ARA-290 as an 11-residue peptide with the sequence:
XEQLERALNSS
Here, X represents pyroglutamate (pGlu) at the N-terminus. The complete condensed sequence is reported as H-Pyr-Glu-Gln-Leu-Glu-Arg-Ala-Leu-Asn-Ser-Ser-OH.
Technical Specifications
| Property | ARA-290 |
|---|---|
| Common name | ARA-290 Peptide |
| Synonyms | Cibinetide, ARA290, pHBSP, PH-BSP |
| Classification | Synthetic EPO-derived peptide |
| Length | 11 amino acids |
| Sequence | XEQLERALNSS |
| N-terminal modification | Pyroglutamate |
| Molecular formula | C51H84N16O21 |
| Molecular weight | Approx. 1,257.3 g/mol |
| CAS | 1208243-50-8 |
| Primary research target | Proposed innate repair receptor |
| Related receptor components | EPOR and β-common receptor/CD131 |
| Research areas | Neurobiology, inflammation, tissue protection, repair signaling |
The molecular formula and molecular weight above refer to the free-base form reported by PubChem. Different salt forms can have different molecular weights. For example, PubChem separately lists acetate and TFA salt forms of ARA-290.
Product-specific information should be verified from the applicable Certificate of Analysis or product documentation.
Mechanism of Research Interest
The principal research interest in ARA-290 centers on the innate repair receptor (IRR) concept.
This proposed receptor system involves the erythropoietin receptor and the β-common receptor, also known as CD131. Research has suggested that activation of this receptor system can engage signaling associated with tissue protection and repair rather than the erythropoietic effects associated with the EPOR homodimer.
ARA-290 was designed to selectively investigate this tissue-protective signaling system.
EPOR and β-Common Receptor Biology
The proposed IRR model is particularly important because it provides a mechanistic explanation for why EPO-derived peptides might produce tissue-related effects without directly reproducing the full hematopoietic profile of EPO.
Experimental studies have reported that ARA-290 activity is dependent on β-common receptor signaling. In a peripheral nerve injury model, ARA-290 produced effects in normal mice but not in mice lacking the β-common receptor.
However, the exact molecular organization of the proposed EPOR/β-common receptor complex remains an area of scientific discussion. Other research has questioned whether EPOR and β-common receptor physically form the proposed heteromeric complex under all experimental conditions.
This uncertainty is important when interpreting ARA-290 research and should be reflected in experimental conclusions.
Cellular Signaling and Tissue-Protection Research
ARA-290 research has examined several biological processes associated with tissue injury and inflammation.
Potential areas of mechanistic investigation include:
- Inflammatory cytokine signaling
- Neurogenic inflammation
- Cellular survival pathways
- Tissue-repair signaling
- Oxidative and ischemic stress responses
- Peripheral nerve biology
- Microglial and astrocyte responses
- Vascular and endothelial responses
ARA-290 does not act through the NMDA receptor. Research examining neuropathic pain mechanisms found that its activity was associated with the innate repair receptor rather than direct NMDA receptor binding.
Key Research Applications
1. Neurobiology and Nerve Injury
ARA-290 has been investigated extensively in experimental models of peripheral nerve injury and neuropathy. Research has examined mechanical and cold allodynia as well as changes in neuroinflammatory signaling.
This makes ARA-290 relevant to laboratory studies of:
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Neural inflammation
- Nerve injury
- Neuroimmune signaling
- Neural tissue protection
2. Cerebral Ischemia Research
More recent research has examined ARA-290 in experimental cerebral ischemia. A 2024 mouse study investigated its effects following middle cerebral artery occlusion and explored the role of the β-common receptor in the observed response.
These findings are useful for mechanistic research but remain preclinical.
3. Inflammation Research
ARA-290 has been investigated as a tool for studying inflammatory responses associated with tissue injury. Its proposed receptor system provides a model for exploring how injury-associated signaling can shift cellular responses toward repair.
4. Renal Injury Research
Experimental renal ischemia/reperfusion research has investigated ARA-290 in relation to renal function and inflammatory responses. In one rat model, early experimental administration was associated with improved renal markers and reduced inflammatory responses.
These results should be interpreted as animal-model evidence rather than evidence of established clinical efficacy.
5. Tissue Repair and Cellular Protection
The broader research value of ARA-290 comes from its ability to provide a compact molecular model for investigating EPO-derived tissue-protection mechanisms.
Researchers can use it to explore relationships between:
EPO structure → ARA-290 → receptor interaction → intracellular signaling → inflammatory response → tissue-repair biology
ARA-290 and Erythropoietin: Important Distinction
ARA-290 should not be confused with full-length erythropoietin.
Full-length EPO is a much larger glycoprotein hormone with established hematopoietic activity. ARA-290 is an engineered 11-amino-acid peptide derived from the structural region of EPO associated with tissue-protective activity.
Research describes ARA-290 as a non-erythropoietic EPO-derived peptide, meaning it was designed to investigate tissue-protective signaling without the classical red-blood-cell-stimulating activity of EPO.
Why Researchers Choose Peptide Sciences
Researchers evaluating ARA-290 Peptide from Peptide Sciences should prioritize product-specific documentation and analytical information when selecting material for laboratory work.
Relevant considerations may include:
- Confirmed peptide identity
- Batch-specific documentation
- Applicable Certificate of Analysis
- Analytical characterization
- Product-specific purity information
- Documented formulation
- Appropriate handling information
The name Peptide Sciences may appear in commercial research-peptide searches, while peptide science broadly describes the disciplines involved in peptide chemistry, molecular structure, synthesis, characterization, and biological research.
Researchers searching for an ARA-290 peptide science promo code should distinguish promotional information from scientific product validation. A promotional code, if offered, does not establish peptide identity, purity, biological activity, or analytical quality.
For any specific ARA-290 batch, researchers should consult the applicable product documentation before beginning experimental work.
Storage and Handling
ARA-290 is a peptide, and its stability can depend on formulation, concentration, buffer composition, temperature, container conditions, and other product-specific variables.
Because these parameters can vary between preparations, generic storage conditions should not be substituted for the manufacturer’s documentation.
Product-specific information should be verified from the applicable Certificate of Analysis or product documentation.
Researchers should follow the storage and handling information supplied with the applicable product and batch.
Research Evidence and Limitations
ARA-290 has a relatively well-developed experimental literature compared with many research peptides, including studies of peripheral nerve injury, neuropathy, ischemic injury, inflammation, and tissue-protection mechanisms.
At the same time, important limitations remain.
First, much of the mechanistic evidence comes from cellular and animal models. Findings in rodents cannot automatically be extrapolated to humans.
Second, the precise structure and biology of the proposed innate repair receptor remain an area of scientific debate. Some studies support a functional role for EPOR/β-common receptor signaling, while other work has questioned direct physical association between the two receptor components.
Third, ARA-290 has a very short reported plasma half-life. A review of its pharmacology described an approximate plasma half-life of two minutes while noting that downstream biological effects may persist considerably longer in experimental systems.
These considerations make ARA-290 particularly interesting for studies of structure-function relationships, receptor pharmacology, tissue-protection signaling, and peptide engineering.
Laboratory Research Use Only
ARA-290 Peptide is intended for laboratory research use only. It is not intended for human consumption, self-administration, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, or mitigation of any disease or medical condition.
The scientific literature discussed on this page describes experimental research and should not be interpreted as a claim that ARA-290 is clinically effective or approved for treating any condition.
Researchers are responsible for complying with applicable institutional, laboratory, biosafety, and regulatory requirements.
