Exopolysaccharides (EPSs) isolated from Bacillus subtilis may slow the progression of vitiligo and restore pigmentation, reports a new Northwestern University pre-clinical study in mice.
“The results in our model were astonishing,” says senior study author I. Caroline Le Poole, PhD, a professor of dermatology and microbiology-immunology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, IL, in a news release. “We found that administering a microbial compound weekly to vitiligo-prone mice significantly suppressed disease progression. It made a spectacular difference in an aggressive model of the disease.”
The study was published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology.
Dr. Le Poole and her colleagues administered a microbial product weekly to vitiligo-prone mice over an 18-week period. By the end, pigment loss on the mice’s backs was reduced by 74%. The product reduced killer T cells that attack the skin’s pigment and increased protective regulatory T cells.
“This simple microbial compound could work as a standalone therapy, or in synergy with existing treatments,” Dr. Le Poole says
The next challenge is adapting the microbial product for human use. “Weekly injections could work, but we need to explore simpler options, like a food additive or ointment,” says Dr. Le Poole. “We also need to understand how long the effects last and the best timing for treatment.”
Dr. Le Poole added that the same microbial compound she and her colleagues injected in mice could potentially treat other autoimmune conditions, particularly those involving killer T cells in the skin.
“Our next step is collaborating with scientists from several institutions to refine the compound, understand its mechanisms and determine whether it works alongside existing treatments for auto-immune disease.”
