Pharmacological effects
Thymosin α1 is composed of 28 amino acids. In 1977, a single peptide, thymosin α1, was first isolated from thymosin fraction 5 (TF5). Its activity is 10 to 1000 times higher than that of TF5, and its molecular weight is 3108KD. Thymosin α1 is a highly conserved acid polypeptide structure, mainly distributed in thymic tissue, especially thymic epithelial cells. In addition, it also exists in lymphoid tissue (such as spleen, lymph nodes) and non-lymphoid tissue (such as lung, kidney and brain). Its secretion and release are not regulated by other hormones or release factors. Thymosin α1 is easily degraded and inactivated in the body, and its half-life in the body is very short (<2h). Although the exact immune mechanism of thymosin α1 is still unclear, a large number of experiments have confirmed that it has a strong immunomodulatory effect. It is a cellular immune enhancer and biological response regulator, with immunomodulatory effects, and is very important in the body's immune response process.
1. Immunomodulatory effect
It is now believed that the mechanism of action of thymosin α1 in regulating immune response is mainly achieved through T cells, including increasing the production of T cells (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ cells), stimulating T cell differentiation and maturation, reducing T cell apoptosis, and producing T cell-mediated antibodies. In addition, thymosin α1 promotes the differentiation and maturation of natural killer cells and dendritic cells by regulating the release of inflammatory cytokines (IL-2, IL-3, IL-6, IL-7, etc.) and interferon α and interferon γ (IFN-α, IFN-γ).
2. Anti-tumor effect
Thymosin α1 has the value of treating a variety of tumors. The functional state of the body's immune system, especially cellular immunity, is closely related to the occurrence, development and prognosis of tumors, and conventional anti-tumor treatments (such as surgery, radiotherapy, etc.) can inhibit cellular immunity. Among them, T cell subsets are an important part of the body's immune defense system and play a very important role in tumor immune surveillance and immune effects. Thymus α1 is a polypeptide substance that can promote the production of lymphocytes in the body, thereby regulating the proportion of T cell subsets, promoting B cell differentiation and antibody production, enhancing the phagocytic function of macrophages, and ultimately improving the cellular immune system function of tumor patients.
3. Other effects
As a good anti-inflammatory factor, thymosin α1 can increase the number and activity of T cells, stimulate the production of other antiviral lymphokines and macrophages, and enhance phagocytic function, so that the body can clear bacteria, fungi and viruses. In addition, a large number of clinical trials have confirmed that thymus α1 alone and (or) in combination with other biological effect regulators (BRMs) can effectively treat human viral diseases such as viral hepatitis, cytomegalovirus, influenza, certain bacteria such as mycobacteria, and fungal diseases. Therefore, thymus α1, as an immunomodulator, can reduce the proinflammatory cytokines under the premise of adjusting the patient's own immunity, and can reduce the patient's inflammatory state and the damage caused by inflammatory mediators. In addition to activating immune effector cells or regulating the expression of cytokines, thymosin α1 can also inhibit viral replication by directly acting on target cells. It significantly inhibits viral replication by increasing the expression of MHC-I and the level of intracellular glutathione. Thymosin α1 can increase the expression of viral antigens in infected cells, making them easier to be recognized and eliminated by the immune system. Studies have reported that thymosin α1 has a protective effect in oxidative damage. It can enhance the activity of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in serum, which is beneficial for clearing the damage of oxygen free radicals to the liver and has a protective effect on liver function.
Indications
(1) Chronic hepatitis B. This product is used to treat chronic hepatitis B patients aged 18 years or older who have compensated liver disease and hepatitis B virus replication (serum HBV-DNA positive). Studies have shown that in patients with serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive for at least 6 months and elevated ALT, treatment with this product can produce viral remission (loss of serum HBV-DNA) and normalization of ALT levels. In some patients who respond, treatment with this product can remove serum surface antigens. When this product is used in combination with α-interferon, it may increase the response rate compared with using this product alone or interferon alone.
(2) As a vaccine enhancer for immunocompromised patients. For patients with suppressed immune system function, including those receiving chronic hemodialysis and elderly patients, this product enhances the patient's immune response to viral vaccines, such as influenza vaccine or hepatitis B vaccine. After receiving influenza vaccine, 65% of hemodialysis patients who used this product as an adjuvant produced anti-influenza virus antibodies, and the titer level increased by more than 4 times, while only 24% of patients in the placebo group had this response.
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