[The Effects of Thymosin alpha1 on Immune Function of Mice after Skin Transplantation].
Chen. Yang Y; Lu. Hui-min HM; Guo. Qiang Q; Hu. Wei-ming WM
Key Findings
- Thymosin‑alpha‑1 reduced IL‑1, IL‑2, IL‑6, IL‑17 and increased IL‑10 in transplanted mice
- Thymosin‑alpha‑1 alone did not prevent graft rejection
- Combining thymosin‑alpha‑1 with cyclosporine improved CD4/CD8 ratio and increased regulatory T‑cells (CD4+CD25+)
Practical Outcomes
- The data show thymosin‑alpha‑1 can modestly shift immune balance toward anti‑inflammation, but on its own it isn’t enough to stop organ rejection. For self‑experimenters, it suggests the peptide may have mild immune‑modulating effects, but there’s no clear protocol for boosting health or performance, and benefits appear limited without other immunosuppressants.
Summary
In mice that got skin grafts, giving thymosin‑alpha‑1 changed some immune signals – it lowered inflammatory cytokines and raised anti‑inflammatory IL‑10, but it didn’t stop the graft from being rejected. When combined with the standard drug cyclosporine, it improved some T‑cell ratios.
Abstract
By establishing C57-BABL/c mice allogeneic skin transplantation model, to analyze the immune system function with the administration of thymosin al (Tal) in mouse after skin transplantation; and to explore the mechanism of specific immune tolerance induced by Tal in vivo. 80 C57 mice and 80 BABL/c mice were used as donor and acceptor respectively to establish C57-BABL/c mice allogeneic skin transplantation model and divided into four groups: Group A, control group (without any treatment, n=20); Group B, CsA treatment group (CsA 10 mg/kg, n=20); Group C, Tal treatment group (Tal 400 microg/kg, n=20) and Group D, combination therapy group (CsA 10 mg/kg & Talphal 400 microg/kg, n=20). In the three experimental group, the drug of each group were respectively administrated by intraperitoneal injection daily, for 21 d. The survival of skin graft were observed and recorded, the Luminexx MAP for cytokine detection were performed in 1, 7, 14, 21 d after treatment, skin grafts were taking for HE staining, and flow cytometry were performed for lymphocyte phenotype. After transplantation, in 1, 7, 14, 21 d, the cytokine of Group B, C and ID compared to Group A, as well as Group D to B&C respectively, shows a decreaing of IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, IL-17 value and increasing of IL-10 significantly (P<0.05) at the same time point; While no statistical significance shows between Group B and C. Compared with other groups, Group D have a high ratio of CD4/CD8, and a high percentage of CD4+ CD25+ T cells (P<0.05). Administrated Tal after transplantation, can decrease the graft damage from T cells, but could not prevent rejection.
Study Information
pubmed
2015