In a small clinical trial, giving septic‑shock patients the peptide thymosin‑alpha1 (1.6 mg under the skin twice a day for a week) boosted key immune cells and was linked to shorter ICU stays, less time on a ventilator, lower hospital costs, and lower 28‑day death rates.

To investigate the effects of thymosin-alpha1 on cell immunity function and outcome in the patients with septic shock. Forty-two patients with septic shock in the department of intensive care unit (ICU) and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) scores between 15 and 25. Patients with tumor, organ transplantation, chronic end-stage diseases and those who had used immunity inhibitor in recent 3 months or hormones were excluded. The patients were randomized into two groups: thymosin group (n=21) and control group (n=21). Patients in thymosin group were treated with thymosin-alpha1 1.6 mg by subcutaneous injection twice daily for 1 week in addition to the administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics to all patients. The levels of T lymphocyte subtype and natural killer (NK) cell were determined on the day 1, 3 and 7. At the same time, temperature, ICU stay days and duration of artificial ventilation, 28-day mortality and the expenses of hospitalization were recorded. In the thymosin group, the levels of CD3+, CD4+, NK cells and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ were increased obviously (all P<0.01). The mean afebrile period, stay days in ICU, duration of mechanical ventilation and hospital expenses as well as 28-day mortality were decreased obviously compared with those of control group (all P<0.01). Thymosin-alpha1 can improve cell immunity function in the patients with septic shock. The cell immunity function is one of the main factors in influencing the prognosis of septic shock.