[Impact of thymosin-alpha1 on reproduction of herpes simplex virus in cell system and on course of acute experimental infection in mice].
Mamedov. M K MK; Safarova. S M SM; Dadasheva. A E AE
Key Findings
- Thymosin‑alpha‑1 blocked HSV replication in cultured cells, similar to human alpha‑interferon.
- Mice given thymosin‑alpha‑1 after HSV infection showed lower illness rates and lived longer.
- The protective effect in mice was stronger than that seen with the standard antiviral drug acyclovir.
Practical Outcomes
- The data suggest thymosin‑alpha‑1 has real antiviral potential, but all evidence is from cell cultures and animal studies. For biohackers, it’s an interesting lead worth watching, yet there’s no human dosing or safety information, so it isn’t ready for self‑experimentation as a herpes treatment.
Summary
In lab tests and mouse experiments, the peptide thymosin‑alpha‑1 was able to stop herpes simplex virus from multiplying, working about as well as interferon and even better than the drug acyclovir at keeping mice alive.
Abstract
The article contains results of laboratory and experimental investigation carried out for comparative estimation of antiviral activity of thymosin-alpha1 (Ta1) against herpes simplex virus (HSV). It was demonstrated that administration of tymosin-alpha1 in cultivated in vitro cellular system had been inoculated with HSV provided inhibition of HSV reproduction and defense of cells of HSV cytopathogenic action. Moreover Ta1 ability to inhibit HSV reproduction in cell was comparable with the same ability of human alpha-interferon. Besides it was demonstrated that Ta1 parenteral administration to mice infected with HSV leaded to reduce of mice morbidity percent and prolonged of their survival rate. Ta1 ability to depress experimental viral infection development was higher than same ability of acyclovir.
Study Information
pubmed
2012