Efficacy of thymosin α1 and interferon α for the treatment of severe acute pancreatitis in a rat model.
Wang. Xiaoqin X; Zeng. Xiaoyan X; Yang. Bo B; Zhao. Shan S; Chen. Wei W; Guo. Xuan X
Key Findings
- TA1 and IFN‑α reduced serum enzymes (AST, LDH, amylase, lipase) and inflammatory cytokines (TNF‑α, IL‑4, IL‑5, IL‑18) within 24 h
- Both peptides increased CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ T‑cell counts and the CD4+/CD8+ ratio
- Treated rats showed less pancreas and lung damage and lower mortality (TA1 25%, IFN‑α 33% vs 50% in controls)
Practical Outcomes
- The results hint that thymosin‑alpha‑1 may have strong anti‑inflammatory and immune‑supporting effects in severe acute conditions, but the study is in rats and uses high doses not tested in humans. For biohackers, it suggests a potential benefit worth monitoring, yet no concrete dosing or safety guidance can be drawn for personal use without clinical trials.
Summary
In a rat study, giving thymosin‑alpha‑1 or interferon‑alpha after severe pancreas inflammation lowered harmful enzymes and inflammatory chemicals, boosted immune‑cell numbers, improved tissue health, and cut death rates compared to untreated rats.
Abstract
The present study aimed to investigate the effects of treatment with thymosin α1 (TA1) or interferon α (IFNα) following the establishment of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) in rats. A total of 144 Sprague‑Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups. The rats in all four groups were celiotomized, and the rats in the control group were administered with an intravenous injection of saline. The three other groups were administered with 5% 1 ml/kg sodium taurocholate via the cholangiopancreatic duct. SAP group rats were administered with an intravenous injection of saline; TA1 group rats received 26.7 µg/kg TA1; and interferon α (INFα) group rats received 4.0x105 U/kg IFNα. The rats were anesthetized and blood samples were collected from the animals 3, 12 and 24 h after surgery. The levels of T cell subsets, serum enzyme indicators, cytokines and procalcitonin (PCT) were measured. The general conditions of the rats were observed until sacrifice, and pancreatic and lung tissue samples were sampled for hematoxylin and eosin staining and histological scoring. The expression levels of aspartate transaminase, lactate dehydrogenase, α‑amylase (AMY), P‑type‑amylase, lipase, PCT, tumor‑necrosis factor α, interleukin (IL)‑4, IL‑5, and IL‑18 in the TA1 and IFNα‑treated rats were significantly lower, compared with those of the SAP rats within the first 24 h of model establishment (P<0.05). The TA1 and IFNα‑treated rats exhibited significantly increased levels of CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and an increased ratio of CD4+/CD8+ cells, compared with SAP rats. Histological analysis revealed that the TA1 and IFNα‑treated rats exhibited significantly ameliorated pancreas and lung damage, and mortality rates were reduced from 50.0% (6/12) to 25.0% (3/12) and 33.3% (4/12), respectively. The immunomodulatory agents TA1 and IFNα reduced acute inflammation, decreasing cell damage and enhancing immune function and survival rates in the SAP rats.
Study Information
pubmed
2015
2015-09-01T00:00:00.000Z
10.3892/mmr.2015.4277
7
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