Immunologic studies of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome: relationship of immunodeficiency to extent of disease.
Hersh. E M EM; Reuben. J M JM; Mansell. P W PW; Rios. A A; Gutterman. J U JU; Munn. G G; Murray. J L JL; Spector. S P SP; Goldstein. A L AL; Newell. G R GR
Key Findings
- Most patients showed abnormal immune cell percentages and low thymosin‑alpha‑1 levels
- Immune abnormalities got worse with disease progression
- Thymosin‑alpha‑1 levels correlated with disease stage, suggesting it could be a marker
Practical Outcomes
- For biohackers, the main takeaway is that thymosin‑alpha‑1 is mainly a disease‑related biomarker in AIDS, not a proven supplement for health optimization. It doesn’t provide a clear protocol or dosage for use in healthy individuals.
Summary
The study looked at immune system measurements in people with AIDS and found that many immune cells and a protein called thymosin‑alpha‑1 get worse as the disease gets more advanced, but it didn’t test giving thymosin‑alpha‑1 as a treatment.
Abstract
Immunologic and conventional laboratory studies were done in 135 previously untreated subjects including 28 (20.7%) symptom-free homosexuals and 74 (54.8%) with ARC and 33 (24.5%) with AIDS. More than half of all patients had abnormal percentages of lymphocytes, percentages of T3+ cells, percentage and absolute number of T4+ cells, percentage of T8+ cells, T4/T8 ratio, monocyte adherence, and serum thymosin alpha 1. Most immune variables worsened with progressive disease. Low lymphocyte 5'nucleotidase increased suppressor cell activity, and impaired IL-2 and alpha interferon production and response suggest diminished mature and increased immature peripheral blood and tissue T cells. These findings suggest approaches to staging, prognostication, and treatment for AIDS.
Study Information
pubmed
1984
1984-12-01T00:00:00.000Z
10.1111/j.1749-6632.1984.tb37156.x
16
15