Scientists from Johns Hopkins successfully used the compound to reverse hair loss, hair whitening, and skin inflammation linked to diets high in fat and cholesterol in a series of mice experiments. The experimental D-threo-1-phenyl-2-decanoylmino-3-morpholino-1-propanol compound halts production of certain glycosphingolipids fats that are key components of skin and other cell membranes.
Research shows that mice fed diets high in fat and cholesterol or more likely to have hair discolouration, extensive hair loss, and inflammation of skin exhibited by multiple wounds; feeding these animals this experimental compound D-PDMP appears to reverse these such symptoms.
It was noted in caution by the scientists that these results in mice do not guarantee or mean that these same effects will occur in humans, as there is no evidence available at this point in time to indicated the experimental compound D-PDMP would even be safe in humans as of yet. But according to the scientists their findings do shed light on possible pathway to follow in which to address hair loss and skin wounds in humans using oral or topical medications. Additional investigations are required on the promising findings to develop the compound into a drug for skin diseases such as psoriasis and wounds as a result of diabetes.
Previous studies show that GSLs are prevalent in cells that make up the uppermost layer of skin as well as keratinocyte cells that help regulate pigmentation of skin, hair, and eyes. To gain better understandings of GSLs by determining how disruption might affect skin appearance and colour, and whether treatment with D-threo-1-phenyl-2-decanoylmino-3-morpholino-1-propanol would reverse negative effects the scientists genetically modified model mice to have atherosclerosis. One group of animals was fed a diet high in fat and cholesterol, another standard kibble, with both groups being fed assigned diets for 20 weeks.
Model animals consuming high fat and cholesterol diets formed skin lesions and suffered from hair whitening, results which became more severe when animals continued eating the diet for 36 weeks with 75% of the mice having skin, hair loss and multiple skin lesions. Animals from 20-36 weeks of age in both groups were given varying amounts of D-PDMP while on their diets, animals given 1 mg and 10 mgs on the bad diet started to regain hair, hair colour, and skin inflammation lessened; treatment with 1mg capsule was just as effective as 10mg liquid suggesting that encapsulated form of D-PDMP is a better drug delivery method.
Analyzing under skin of mice fed the bad diet showed the animals experienced an infiltration of neutrophils, treatment with D-PDMP vai capsule significantly reduced neutrophils, implying decreased skin inflammation and wounding.
Mass spectrometry analysis was used to determine ceramide, glucosylceramide and lactosylceramide levels, animals on the bad diet decreased total levels of ceramide and glucosylceramide and 3 times more lactosylceramide. Treatment with 1mg capsule of D-PDMP or liquid noticeably increased ceramide levels to normal.
According to the scientists their findings show that Western diets high in fat and cholesterol cause hair loss, whitening, and skin inflammation. More research needs to be done to confirm and expand on results to determine how well and what amounts of the experimental D-threo-1-phenyl-2-decanoylmino-3-morpholino-1-propanol compound may heal wounds and activate new hair growth to one day in the future mean faster effective recovery from baldness, hair whitening in ageing populations, and wound healing.
