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Thymosin-alpha-1

Thymalfasin, Zadaxin, Thymosin α1

A synthetic 28-amino acid peptide that enhances immune function by modulating T-cell activity, used for viral infections and immunodeficiencies.

Quick Stats
Studies 759
Trials 63
Formula C129H215N33O55
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Utility 3
pubmed 1999

Inhibitory effect of natural and environmental estrogens on thymic hormone production in thymus epithelial cell culture.

Sakabe. K K; Okuma. M M; Karaki. S S; Matsuura. S S; Yoshida. T T; Aikawa. H H; Izumi. S S; Kayama....

The study shows that both natural hormones like estrogen and man‑made chemicals that act like estrogen (such as BPA, certain plant compounds, and some livestock drugs) can lower the amount of thymosin‑alpha‑1 that thymus cells make, likely by binding to estrogen receptors on those cells. This was seen in mouse cells in a lab dish, so it hints that high estrogenic exposure might blunt your body’s own production of this immune‑boosting peptide.

Utility 3
pubmed 1996

Thymosin alpha 1 does not promote growth or oncogenic transformation.

Naylor. P H PH; Smith. M R MR; Mutchnick. M G MG; Naylor. C W CW; Dosescu. J J; Skunca. M M; Moshier...

The study shows that the peptide thymosin‑alpha‑1 (Tα1) does not make cancer cells grow faster or turn normal cells into cancer cells, whether it’s added from outside or made inside the cells themselves.

Utility 3
pubmed Mar 27, 1992

Thymosin alpha 1 is a native peptide in several tissues.

Franco. F J FJ; Diaz. C C; Barcia. M M; Freire. M M

The study shows that thymosin‑alpha‑1 (Tα1) is a real, naturally occurring peptide found in the thymus and other tissues, not just a breakdown product of a larger protein. It’s present in higher amounts than its precursor, prothymosin‑alpha, and its levels stay the same even if you don’t block enzymes during tissue processing.

Utility 3
pubmed 1991

Thymosin alpha 1 potentiates interleukin 2-induced cytotoxic activity in mice.

Mastino. A A; Favalli. C C; Grelli. S S; Innocenti. F F; Garaci. E E

In mice, giving thymosin‑alpha‑1 before interleukin‑2 makes immune cells better at killing cancer‑like cells, even in animals weakened by chemotherapy or tumors. The boost works for both easy‑to‑kill and harder‑to‑kill target cells, suggesting the two compounds together could act as a stronger immune‑stimulating combo.

Utility 3
pubmed Jan 28, 2003

Prothymosin alpha is processed to thymosin alpha 1 and thymosin alpha 11 by a lysosomal asparaginyl endopeptidase.

Sarandeses. Concepción S CS; Covelo. Guillermo G; Díaz-Jullien. Cristina C; Freire. Manuel...

Scientists discovered that the immune‑boosting peptide thymosin‑alpha‑1 (Tα1) is actually made inside our bodies when a lysosomal enzyme called legumain cuts a larger protein, prothymosin‑alpha. This shows Tα1 isn’t just a lab artifact—it naturally exists in many tissues at levels similar to its precursor, hinting it has a real biological role.

Utility 3
pubmed 1991

Synthesis of an immunologically active fragment analog of prothymosin alpha with enhanced enzymatic stability.

Abiko. T T; Sekino. H H

Researchers made a slightly altered version of thymosin‑alpha‑1 by swapping the last amino‑acid for its D‑form and adding an acetyl group at the start. This new peptide still helped weak T‑cells from kidney‑failure patients respond better, and it stayed intact much longer in human serum than the regular peptide. The changes make the molecule more resistant to breakdown, which could mean a longer‑lasting immune boost.

Utility 3
pubmed May 25, 2009

Treatment with lamivudine versus lamivudine and thymosin alpha-1 for e antigen-positive chronic hepatitis B patients: a meta-analysis.

Zhang. Yuan-Yuan YY; Chen. En-Qiang EQ; Yang. Jin J; Duan. Yu-Rong YR; Tang. Hong H

A review of eight studies (583 patients) found that adding the peptide thymosin‑alpha‑1 to the standard antiviral drug lamivudine improves liver enzyme normalization, virus suppression, and the chance that the hepatitis B virus marker (HBeAg) disappears, compared to lamivudine alone.

Utility 3
pubmed 2017

Interaction of Cholera Toxin B-subunit with Human T-lymphocytes.

Navolotskaya. E V EV; Sadovnikov. V B VB; Zinchenko. D V DV; Zolotarev. Y A YA; Lipkin. V M VM; Zav'...

The study shows that thymosin‑alpha‑1 (TM‑α1) can bind to the same surface receptor on human T‑cells as cholera toxin B‑subunit, and this binding boosts the activity of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), an enzyme linked to nitric‑oxide signaling. The effect is seen at very low (nanomolar) concentrations, suggesting a potent interaction, but the work is done in isolated cells, not in living people.

Utility 3
pubmed 1992

Cleavage and deprotection of peptides on MBHA-resin with hydrogen bromide.

Wang. S S SS; Wang. B S BS; Hughes. J L JL; Leopold. E J EJ; Wu. C R CR; Tam. J P JP

The paper describes a new recipe for cutting and cleaning peptides off a solid support using a mix of hydrogen bromide and trifluoroacetic acid, which works well for making large amounts of thymosin‑alpha‑1, and shows that you can swap the usual toxic acetonitrile in HPLC purification for cheaper, safer isopropanol.

Utility 3
pubmed Jul 27, 2018

Novel strategy of sirolimus plus thymalfasin and huaier granule on tumor recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma beyond the UCSF criteria following liver transplantation: A single center experience.

Zhou. Lin L; Pan. Li-Chao LC; Zheng. Yong-Gen YG; Du. Guo-Sheng GS; Fu. Xiao-Qian XQ; Zhu. Zhi-Dong...

A small retrospective study found that liver transplant patients with advanced liver cancer who received a combination of the drug sirolimus, the immune‑boosting peptide thymosin‑alpha‑1 (called thymalfasin), and a mushroom extract (huaier granule) lived longer without the cancer coming back compared to those on standard tacrolimus therapy. The combo also lowered cancer marker AFP and reduced suppressive T‑reg cells while boosting killer CD8+ T cells.

Utility 3
pubmed Sep 1, 1989

Thymosins alpha 1 and beta 4 potentiate the antigen-presenting capacity of macrophages.

Tzehoval. E E; Sztein. M B MB; Goldstein. A L AL

The study shows that two small proteins, thymosin‑alpha‑1 and thymosin‑beta‑4, can make immune cells called macrophages better at showing antigens to T‑cells, which boosts T‑cell growth and IL‑2 production without raising IL‑4. This effect happens at very low, naturally‑occurring concentrations, suggesting the peptides can enhance immune signaling, but the work was done in a lab dish, not in people.

Utility 3
pubmed Oct 28, 2013

Generation of mature Nα-terminal acetylated thymosin α 1 by cleavage of recombinant prothymosin α.

Liu. Bo B; Gong. Xin X; Chang. Shaohong S; Sun. Peng P; Wu. Jun J

Scientists figured out a way to make the immune‑boosting peptide thymosin‑alpha‑1 with its natural N‑terminal acetyl group using ordinary bacteria (E. coli) and a yeast‑made enzyme. The resulting peptide matches the chemically‑synthesized version in size and behavior, proving the method works.

Utility 3
pubmed 1990

Thymosin alpha 1 modulates the expression of high affinity interleukin-2 receptors on normal human lymphocytes.

Leichtling. K D KD; Serrate. S A SA; Sztein. M B MB

The study shows that the synthetic peptide thymosin alpha‑1 can boost the number of high‑affinity IL‑2 receptors on human immune cells, but only when those cells are already activated by a stimulant. It works best at very low (10⁻ÂčÂČ M) and higher (10⁻⁞ M) concentrations, and it also raises IL‑2 production. However, the experiments were done in a test‑tube with a lab chemical, not in people, so the real‑world dosing and benefits are still unclear.

Utility 3
pubmed Nov 21, 2008

Expression of thymosin alpha1-thymopentin fusion peptide in Pichia pastoris and its characterization.

Gao. Demin D; Zhang. Xulong X; Zhang. Jian J; Cao. Jichao J; Wang. Fengshan F

Scientists made a new protein that joins two immune‑boosting peptides (thymosin‑alpha‑1 and thymopentin) together. This combined peptide lasts longer in the blood (about 2 hours) than each piece on its own and showed stronger effects on mouse immune cells, suggesting it could be a more powerful immune‑support tool.

Utility 3
pubmed May 1, 1989

Aspirin and thymosin increase interleukin-2 and interferon-gamma production by human peripheral blood lymphocytes.

Hsia. J J; Sarin. N N; Oliver. J H JH; Goldstein. A L AL

The study shows that both aspirin and the peptide thymosin‑alpha‑1 can boost the production of immune‑signalling proteins IL‑2 and IFN‑γ by white blood cells, and that taking aspirin orally in healthy people also raises these cytokines in the blood. The effects are dose‑dependent and seem to work through different mechanisms, suggesting they could be combined for stronger immune activation.

Utility 3
pubmed May 16, 2010

Bioactivity and pharmacokinetics of two human serum albumin-thymosin alpha1-fusion proteins, rHSA-Talpha1 and rHSA-L-Talpha1, expressed in recombinant Pichia pastoris.

Chen. Jian-Hua JH; Zhang. Xin-Guo XG; Jiang. Yu-Tao YT; Yan. Lu-Ying LY; Tang. Li L; Yin. Yi-Wei YW;...

Scientists linked thymosin‑alpha‑1 (a peptide that can boost immune function) to human serum albumin, creating two new fusion proteins that stay in the body much longer and still work to support immune cells in mice. The study shows these hybrids improve weight gain, spleen and thymus health, and antioxidant markers compared to the plain peptide.

Utility 3
pubmed May 12, 2009

Proliferative and anti-proliferative effects of thymosin alpha1 on cells are associated with manipulation of cellular ROS levels.

Qin. Yong Y; Chen. Fu-Ding FD; Zhou. Liang L; Gong. Xing-Guo XG; Han. Qi-Feng QF

The study shows that the peptide thymosin‑alpha‑1 can push immune cells to grow by raising their oxidative stress, while it does the opposite in liver cancer cells, lowering their oxidative stress and stopping them from dividing. This dual action suggests it might help the immune system and also act as an anti‑cancer agent, but the work was done in mouse immune cells and a human liver cancer cell line, not in people.

Utility 3
pubmed Mar 9, 1987

Corticosterone-releasing activity of immune mediators.

Torres-Alemán. I I; Rejas. M T MT; Barasoaín. I I; Borrell. J J; Guaza. C C

The study shows that thymosin‑alpha‑1, a peptide from the thymus, can boost the release of the stress hormone corticosterone from rat adrenal cells, but only when another hormone (ACTH) is present. It doesn’t raise hormone levels on its own, suggesting it works together with the body’s own stress signals.

Utility 3
pubmed 1987

4-Methoxybenzyloxycarbonyl amino acids in solid phase peptide synthesis.

Wang. S S SS; Chen. S T ST; Wang. K T KT; Merrifield. R B RB

The study shows a new way to make the peptide thymosin‑alpha‑1 using Moz‑protected amino acids, which can be stripped off quickly with a mild acid mix, making the whole synthesis faster and cleaner than the older Boc method.