Changes in the Hydrophobic Proteins in Response to Biotin Administration in Serum of Infant Patients with Alopecia as Assessed by the Protein Micro-Sequencing Method

Introduction: In order to clarify the mechanism of hair growth induced by biotin, we compared the serum proteins before and after the oral biotin administration. Materials and methods: The serum of three biotin-deficient children with alopecia were studied. Oral biotin administration was performed. Component proteins of serum were studied by using unique quantitative proteinmicrosequencing- deciphering method. Results: Hydrophobic membrane-proteins of ultra-high-sulphur keratin-associated protein was detected in the serum of biotin-deficient children with alopecia. This membrane protein in the serum disappeared after the biotin administration. This phenomenon is significant (p<0.05; Mann-Whitney’s U test). Conclusion: Biotin deficiency in children induced the excretion of membrane proteins into the blood, and biotin administration prevented this phenomenon. Therefore, biotin was expected to regulate the expression of membrane proteins.