What it is
PTD-DBM is a peptide made of 25 amino acids. It is made in a lab. It joins two pieces. The first piece is 8 arginines in a row, which helps the peptide get into cells. The second piece copies part of a protein called CXXC5. CXXC5 acts as a brake on Wnt signaling. Wnt is a signal that tells hair follicles to grow and skin to repair. CXXC5 works by attaching to a protein called Dishevelled. PTD-DBM takes CXXC5's spot on Dishevelled, so the brake comes off. Scientists at Yonsei University in South Korea built it. Other names: Protein Transduction Domain-Dishevelled Binding Motif, CXXC5 competing peptide.
What researchers study it for
- Hair regrowth in mice
- New hair follicles forming in healing wounds in mice
- Wound healing and scarring in mice
- How male pattern hair loss signals work
- Wnt signaling in human scalp cells
What the studies found
1. Mouse wounds closed faster when it was paired with valproic acid.
A 2015 study found CXXC5 goes up in healing skin, including human wound samples. Mice bred without CXXC5 healed faster. PTD-DBM was put on mouse wounds along with valproic acid, a drug that also turns on Wnt. The pair closed wounds faster. The authors credit the pair, not PTD-DBM alone. Mouse and lab cell data.
2. Hair grew back in mice. Balding human scalp had more CXXC5.
This 2017 study found higher CXXC5 in shrunken hair follicles from balding human scalps. In the lab, CXXC5 slowed human scalp cells that control hair growth. Mice bred without CXXC5 regrew hair faster. PTD-DBM put on shaved mouse skin brought back hair growth. Paired with valproic acid, it also helped new follicles form in healing wounds. Human tissue, lab cell, and mouse data.
3. It blocked hair loss driven by DHT in mice.
DHT is a hormone tied to male pattern hair loss. This 2023 study found DHT raises prostaglandin D2, which then raises CXXC5. PTD-DBM on mouse skin reversed hair loss caused by both prostaglandin D2 and DHT. The lead scientist has a business interest in a company that licenses this technology. Mouse and lab cell data.
4. A gel patch with PTD-DBM cut scarring in mouse wounds.
A 2023 study put PTD-DBM and valproic acid in a sticky gel patch on mouse wounds. The wounds formed less scar tissue. Markers of stem cells went up. Collagen III, a type of collagen seen in healing without scars, also went up. Mouse data only.
How much research exists
A handful of mouse and lab studies. Almost all come from one lab at Yonsei University. The lab's lead scientist has a business stake in the work. No outside lab has repeated the results. No human trial has been published.
Facts
- Formula: C124H225N61O28S2
- Weight: about 3083 g/mol
- CAS number: 1609454-11-6 (could not confirm)
- Sequence: RRRRRRRRGGGGRKTGHQICKFRKC
- Time in the blood: never measured
- Storage: powder in the freezer, away from light.
Legal status
Not approved by the FDA or any other agency for any use.
For research use only. Not for human use. Nothing here is medical advice.