At a Glance

• Researchers in China have tested a nutritional supplement on a common skin disease.

• Early results in humans and mice were described as encouraging.

• The condition currently has no cure.

Researchers in Beijing report that pantethine, a widely available vitamin B5 derivative, eased psoriasis symptoms in a small human trial and fully prevented the disease in mice, offering a possible new approach to an incurable autoimmune condition.

Key Statements and Focus Area

• Role of Pantethine in Immune Activation: "Insufficient pantethine levels may be the crucial contributor to hyperactivation of dendritic cells and autoimmune inflammation following the up-regulation of Vanins." — Dr. Wei-Na Zhang, study co-lead author.

• Clinical Trial Outcome: "Our investigator-initiated clinical trial demonstrated encouraging therapeutic efficacy of pantethine as an adjunctive therapy in psoriasis, providing a foundation for therapeutic strategies targeting dendritic-mediated autoimmune diseases." — Research team, State Key Laboratory of Biomedical Analysis.

• Focus Area: The potential of pantethine, a vitamin B5 derivative, as an added treatment for psoriasis by calming overactive immune cells.

The findings, published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, center on dendritic cells, specialized immune cells that activate T-cells and release signaling molecules that promote inflammation.

Overactive dendritic cells are believed to drive several autoimmune diseases. The team found that levels of Vanin enzymes are elevated in these cells in patients with psoriasis and other autoimmune conditions.

Higher Vanin activity depletes pantethine, which leads to greater cholesterol production and further activation of the cells. Restoring pantethine reversed this process, while a drug that blocks Vanin prevented psoriasis from developing in mice.

In the small proof-of-concept trial, 24 patients used an ointment, and half also took pantethine tablets. After 12 weeks, those receiving the supplement showed improved symptoms, especially patients who began with high blood cholesterol. Pantethine is already sold as a supplement, commonly used to lower cholesterol.

FYI

Psoriasis causes itchy, scaly patches of rash, most often on the knees, elbows, and around the waist. High blood cholesterol is considered a major risk factor for developing the condition. Because the trial was small and used pantethine alongside standard ointment, larger studies would be needed to confirm its benefit.

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