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

The study investigated the effect of biotin on serum proteins in three biotin-deficient children with alopecia. Using a quantitative protein micro-sequencing method, researchers found that hydrophobic membrane proteins associated with ultra-high-sulfur keratin were present in the serum of these children. After oral biotin administration, these proteins disappeared from the serum, a significant change (p<0.05). The findings suggested that biotin deficiency led to the excretion of these membrane proteins into the blood, and biotin administration regulated their expression, potentially explaining biotin's role in hair growth.