thymalfasin and Atrophy

Topics: Aging; Animals; Atrophy; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Galactose; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Saline Solution; Thymalfasin; Thymopoietins; Thymus Gland

In the present study, the immunomodulatory and synergistic anti-tumor activity of thymosin α1-thymopentin fusion peptide (Tα1-TP5) was investigated in vivo. In addition, the potential receptor of Tα1-TP5 was investigated by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) binding studies. It was found that Tα1-TP5 (305 μg/kg) alleviated immunosuppression induced by hydrocortisone (HC). Tα1-TP5 (305 μg/kg) combined with cyclophosphamide (CY) had a better tumor growth inhibitory effect than CY alone. Furthermore, Tα1-TP5 had a higher affinity (KD=6.84 μmol/L) to toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) than Tα1 (K(D)=35.4 μmol/L), but its affinity was not significantly different from that of TP5. The results of our present work indicate that Tα1-TP5 can possibly be developed as a new immunomodulatory agent.

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Atrophy; B7-2 Antigen; Cyclophosphamide; Drug Synergism; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; Hydrocortisone; Immunologic Factors; Immunosuppressive Agents; Interferon-gamma; Male; Melanoma, Experimental; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Protein Binding; Skin Neoplasms; Surface Plasmon Resonance; Thymalfasin; Thymocytes; Thymopentin; Thymosin; Thymus Gland; Time Factors; Toll-Like Receptor 2; Tumor Burden

Changes in the circulating lymphocyte populations and thymus glands were studied in rats with experimental chronic renal insufficiency (CRI). Compared to normal or sham-operated animals, rats with CRI had significant reduction in the percentages of circulating T and B lymphocytes. CRI was also associated with marked thymic atrophy and reduction in the numbers of small cortical and medullary thymic lymphocytes. Quantitative microfluorometry revealed a significant reduction in the intrathymic concentration of a potent immunomodulator, thymosin alpha 1 in all uremic animals. There was a significant positive correlation between the percentages of circulating T lymphocytes and the intrathymic concentrations of thymosin alpha 1.

Topics: Animals; Atrophy; B-Lymphocytes; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Fluorometry; Leukocyte Count; Male; Rats; Rats, Inbred Lew; T-Lymphocytes; Thymalfasin; Thymosin; Thymus Gland; Uremia