Pantethine Eases Psoriasis Symptoms by Calming Immune Cells, Study Finds
A nutritional supplement derived from vitamin B5 can calm overactive immune cells and ease psoriasis symptoms, according to research published October 27 in the Journal of Experimental Medicine.
The findings link cholesterol production directly to autoimmune inflammation, offering a potential new path for treating the skin condition.
- Pantethine, a common vitamin B5 derivative, reduces excessive immune activity by interfering with cellular cholesterol production.
- Researchers found that a drug inhibiting Vanin enzymes prevented psoriasis from developing in mice.
- A small 12-week human clinical trial involving 24 patients showed improved symptoms when pantethine was added to standard topical treatments.
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease driven by dendritic cells that coordinate the body’s immune defenses. These cells capture foreign antigens and present them to T cells while releasing chemical signals that trigger inflammation. When dendritic cells become excessively active, they drive persistent inflammation.
Wei-Na Zhang, a researcher at the State Key Laboratory of Biomedical Analysis in Beijing, noted that metabolic pathways play vital roles in regulating immune cell function and autoimmune progression. Zhang led the research alongside Qing Xia, Ai-Ling Li, Tao Zhou, and Cheng-Xin Li of The First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital in Beijing. The study uncovers how metabolic changes inside these cells push the immune system into overdrive.
The researchers found unusually high levels of Vanin enzymes in dendritic cells from people with psoriasis and other autoimmune conditions. These enzymes regulate cellular metabolism by converting pantethine into vitamin B5. When Vanin levels are elevated, pantethine inside the cell drops, which in turn causes cholesterol production to rise.
Cholesterol accumulation stimulates dendritic cell activity, and high blood cholesterol remains a major risk factor for psoriasis. Reducing Vanin activity or restoring pantethine levels interrupted this cycle in experiments. Zhang stated that pantethine administration effectively alleviated psoriasis in mice, noting that insufficient pantethine causes dendritic cell hyperactivation.
Encouraged by the laboratory results, the research team conducted a clinical trial with 24 psoriasis patients. All participants used a topical ointment containing calcipotriene and betamethasone. Half of the group also took pantethine tablets over a 12-week period.
Patients taking the pantethine supplement alongside their prescribed ointment showed greater overall improvement in symptoms. The benefits appeared most pronounced among participants who had high blood cholesterol levels prior to treatment. However, the study size was small, and the authors noted that larger trials are required to confirm these therapeutic effects.
Zhang explained that the trial demonstrated encouraging therapeutic efficacy for pantethine as an adjunctive therapy, though the results should be viewed as a proof-of-concept for clinical feasibility rather than direct mechanistic validation in humans.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and scientific communication purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical condition, diagnosis, or treatment plan.