When CXXC5 binds with the Dishevelled proteins in the scalp it prevents hair follicle growth. However, researchers have discovered that the peptide PTD-DBM seems to prevent CXXC5 from binding with Dishevelled, enabling hair growth.
This can most likely only be achieved in wounded skin, during the healing process. When the skin is healing a wound the PTD-DBM prevents CXXC5 from inhibiting the development of hair follicles. Therefore this could be a major breakthrough in the science of hair follicle neogenesis.
What is PTD-DBM?
PTD-DBM stands for Protein Transduction Domain – Dvl Binding Motif. It’s a peptide that’s been tested as a treatment for androgenic alopecia for its ability to inhibit the protein CXXC5 — which prevents the formation of hair follicles.
How does it cause new hair growth?
According to research, PTD-BM acts on the WNT signalling pathway to protect the hair follicles by inhibiting CXXC5 protein. CXXC5 causes hair loss through negative regulation of the WNT pathway. This pathway has a cascade of protein signals which transmit the effect of PTD-DBM throughout the body to regulate cell growth and signalling. WNT/β-Catenin Pathway has a central role in the regeneration of hair by wound healing and collagen deposition. PTD-DBM disrupts the CXXC5-Dishevelled interaction thereby activating the WNT pathway.
A 2015 study revealed:
Data show an inverse relationship between CXXC5 protein expression and active Wnt/β-catenin signalling in wound tissues.
Recent Research
A recent study, led by Kang-Yeol, was carried out to test the peptide’s efficacy in the scalps of bald mice for 28 days. PTD-DBM treatment enhanced collagen deposition and re-epithelization. While announcing the results, Kang-Yeol said:
We have found a protein that controls the hair growth and developed a new substance that promotes hair regeneration by controlling the function of the protein
Dr Kang-Yeol, via Science Direct
However, Kang-Yeol’s team weren’t completely satisfied with the results, so they supplemented the PTD-DBM treatment with Valproic acid which worked in adjunct with the principles of wound-induced hair follicle neogenesis.
The 2015 study describes it as follows:
…fully functional hair follicles regenerate de novo (from the beginning) in the center of large excisional wounds…. The process of de novo hair regeneration largely duplicates the morphological and signalling features of normal embryonic hair development.
NCBI Paper
How to use it
Kang-yeol’s team used this treatment method, in their research, in the following way:
- The team first created wounds in the mice scalps to induce their body’s natural mechanism of wound/follicle regeneration.
- Next, they applied Valproic Acid topically to stimulate the WNT/β-Catenin Pathway.
- Third, they applied PTD-DBM to hinder the CXXC5-Dishevelled interaction to prevent its interference with the process of follicular regeneration.
Modern “micro-needling” procedures employ similar mechanisms. However they might be far more effective if used in conjunction with PTD-DBM and Valproic acid to induce and speed up the hair growth.
Results
There are as yet no human studies with published results. If you have results, please post them below.
Read next
Whats the best shampoo for hair loss? 
