thymic-factor--circulating and Neoplasms

The manuscript will provide an in-depth and critical review of the nomenclature, biochemistry, biological properties, and a summary of published and on-going clinical trials with all reported thymic preparations, including both partially purified thymic factors (e.g., thymosin fraction 5, thymostimulin) as well as purified and synthesized thymic peptides (e.g., thymosin alpha 1, thymulin). Particular emphasis will be placed on which thymic peptides should be categorized as true hormones. In addition, the comparative biochemistry and biological activity in animals will be summarized and contrasted for all the currently available thymic factors. The effects, in vitro of thymic factors, on peripheral blood lymphocytes isolated from normal donors and patients with primary immunodeficiency disorders, autoimmune disorders, and neoplastic disorders will also be reviewed. Finally, a detailed critical summary of the clinical trials performed with each of the thymic preparations will be presented with an emphasis on treatment of patients with cancer.

Topics: Amino Acid Sequence; Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; Antigens, Surface; Autoimmune Diseases; Biological Assay; Cell Differentiation; Epithelium; Humans; Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes; Immunotherapy; Neoplasms; T-Lymphocytes; Terminology as Topic; Thymectomy; Thymic Factor, Circulating; Thymopoietins; Thymosin; Thymus Extracts; Thymus Gland; Thymus Hormones

Topics: Animals; Autoimmune Diseases; Growth Inhibitors; Humans; Immunity; Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes; Interferons; Interleukin-1; Interleukin-2; Lymphotoxin-alpha; Neoplasms; Thymic Factor, Circulating; Thymosin; Thymus Hormones; Transfer Factor

Topics: Aging; Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Blood Proteins; Cattle; Clinical Trials as Topic; Humans; Isoelectric Focusing; Mice; Neoplasms; Peptides; Rats; Thymectomy; Thymic Factor, Circulating; Thymopoietins; Thymosin; Thymus Gland; Thymus Hormones

Topics: Aging; Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Blood Proteins; Cattle; Clinical Trials as Topic; Humans; Isoelectric Focusing; Mice; Neoplasms; Peptides; Rats; Thymectomy; Thymic Factor, Circulating; Thymopoietins; Thymosin; Thymus Gland; Thymus Hormones

The experiments were conducted on a model of intraorganic growth of Geren carcinoma (GC) in spleen of non-linear mice. It has been shown that titer of thymic serum activity (TSA) decreased sharply in the blood at a stage of settling transplants down (7th day), while the level of an inhibitor for thymic serum factor (FTS) increased in a statistically significant way. At progressive tumor growth, the level of TSA in the circulation raised a little on the 10th day but it was still reduced in comparison with that before inoculation of GC. Traces of the inhibitor for FTS were detected only in 18 and 25 days of tumor growth. We have found resemblance between these substances and those in low-molecular extracts of lymphocytes (LEL). The LEL from cells of the spleen and the thymus of intact rats contained TSA and FTS inhibitor, both of T-cell origin, in ratio 1:1. Production of TCA and the FTS inhibitor was peculiar to immature cortisone-sensitive T-lymphocytes. Anti-FTS serum in vitro completely neutralized TSA in both the blood and an extract of thymocytes but it effected neither the contents of TSA in the LEL of the spleen nor the level of FTS inhibitor in all the samples investigated. The data received testify to an important role of FTS inhibitor in the pathogenesis of tumor progression.

Topics: Animals; Carcinoma; Cell Extracts; Cortisone; Mice; Molecular Weight; Neoplasm Transplantation; Neoplasms; Splenic Neoplasms; T-Lymphocytes; Thymic Factor, Circulating; Thymus Gland; Time Factors

Thymic hormones are required for maturation and maintenance of the immune efficiency. It has been previously demonstrated that with advancing age there occurs a progressive reduction of the plasma level of one of the best known thymic peptides, i.e. thymulin, and that the administration of an amino acid combination (lysine-arginine, as present in the commercial preparation Lysargin, Baldacci, Italy) to elderly individuals is able to increase the synthesis and/or release of thymulin to values comparable to those recorded in young subjects. In the present paper we report evidence that cancer patients show much lower thymulin values than those recorded in healthy age-matched individuals and that the oral administration of the amino acid preparation is able to significantly increase thymulin levels even over the values of age-matched controls and to increase the number of peripheral T-cell subsets. It is suggested that such an effect is mediated through the known secretagogue activity of the amino acids on the pituitary release of growth hormone, which has a modulating effect on the thymic endocrine activity.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Arginine; Drug Combinations; Female; Humans; Lysine; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasms; T-Lymphocytes; Thymic Factor, Circulating; Thymus Hormones

Topics: Adolescent; Child; Growth Hormone; Humans; Middle Aged; Neoplasms; Reference Values; Thymic Factor, Circulating; Thymus Gland

We measured serum levels of Facteur Thymique Sérique (FTS) in 56 young cancer patients compared to normal controls. All patients who received immunosuppressive therapy had low age-corrected titres of FTS. Low levels were also found at diagnosis and off therapy. Plasma from 22 patients contained factors capable of inhibiting biological activity of FTS in vitro. The nature of this inhibitor has not been elucidated. No zinc deficiency was found in the patients studied, suggesting that FTS is secreted in its active form. Our study points out the importance of monitoring FTS activity in young cancer patients for its implications on immunological surveillance. The practical applications of thymic hormone therapy in cancer patients are discussed.

Topics: Adolescent; Age Factors; Child; Child, Preschool; Humans; Immune Tolerance; Infant; Neoplasms; Thymic Factor, Circulating; Thymus Hormones; Zinc

Topics: Humans; Immunity, Cellular; Neoplasms; Thymic Factor, Circulating; Thymus Hormones