Protein Transduction Domain-fused Dishevelled Binding Motif (PTD-DBM) is a man-made peptide which interacts with the mechanism of the hair loss linked endogenous protein, CXXC5, which is a negative feedback regulator of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Application of the peptide to bald laboratory mice resulted in new hair follicle growth.[1]
PTD-DBM is a peptide activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway functioning via interference of the binding of CXXC5 to Dishevelled (Dvl), an upstream component of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. By topical application, the PTD-DBM promotes the formation of new hair follicles and prevents hair loss. Combinatory treatment of PTD-DBM with valproic acid (VPA), the activator of Wnt/β-catenin pathway, further induce hair re-growth as well as wound-induced hair neogenesis (WIHN).[2][1] The increased expression of CXXC5 in the bald scalps and excellent effects of PTD-DBM on hair growth in mice raised hopes for the application of this peptide on hair growth in the clinic.