Cardioprotection by systemic dosing of thymosin beta four following ischemic myocardial injury.

Bao W, Ballard VL, Needle S, Hoang B, Lenhard SC, Tunstead JR, Jucker BM, Willette RN, Pipes GT

Frontiers in pharmacology29 Nov 2013Cited by 21 (Europe PMC)

PMID24348421PMCIDPMC3843122DOI10.3389/fphar.2013.00149PepBankPUB-24348421

Summary

Thymosin beta 4 (Tβ4) was previously shown to reduce infarct size and improve contractile performance in chronic myocardial ischemic injury via two phases of action: an acute phase, just after injury, when Tβ4 preserves ischemic myocardium via antiapoptotic or anti-inflammatory mechanisms; and a chronic phase, when Tβ4 activates the growth of vascular or cardiac progenitor cells. In order to differentiate between the effects of Tβ4 during the acute and during the chronic phases, and also in order to obtain detailed hemodynamic and biomarker data on the effects of Tβ4 treatment suitable for use in clinical studies, we tested Tβ4 in a rat model of chronic myocardial ischemia using two dosing regimens: short term dosing (Tβ4 administered only during the first 3 days following injury), and long term dosing (Tβ4 administered during the first 3 days following injury and also every third day until the end of the study). Tβ4 administered throughout the study reduced infarct size and resulted in significant improvements in hemodynamic performance; however, chamber volumes and ejection fractions were not significantly improved. Tβ4 administered only during the first 3 days following injury tended to reduce infarct size, chamber volumes and improve hemodynamic performance. Plasma biomarkers of myocyte injury were significantly reduced by Tβ4 treatment during the acute injury period, and plasma ANP levels were significantly reduced in both dosing groups. Surprisingly, neither acute nor chronic Tβ4 treatment significantly increased blood vessel density in peri-infarct regions. These results suggest the following: repeated dosing may be required to achieve clinically measureable improvements in cardiac function post-myocardial infarction (MI); improvement in cardiac function may be observed in the absence of a high degree of angiogenesis; and that plasma biomarkers of cardiac function and myocardial injury are sensitive pharmacodynamic biomarkers of the effects of Tβ4.

CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study10

10 results from studies that gave the peptide. No result from this study comes from people.

01AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In rats with chronic myocardial ischemia, Tβ4 given throughout the study reduced infarct size.
In plain wordsIn rats with heart injury, Tβ4 given throughout the study reduced the size of the heart damage.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
DecreaseInfarct size with long term dosing
Study
ratn: not reported in source
chronic myocardial ischemia
Outcome group
Heart function · Cardiovascular
Studied dose
Dose not stated · systemic · first 3 days after injury and every third day until the end of the studyAs given in this study (rat).
Source sentences
Summary
Tβ4 administered throughout the study reduced infarct size
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
we tested Tβ4 in a rat model of chronic myocardial ischemia using two dosing regimens: short term dosing (Tβ4 administered only during the first 3 days following injury), and long term dosing (Tβ4 administered during the first 3 days following injury and also every third day until the end of the study).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2434842101
02AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In rats with chronic myocardial ischemia, Tβ4 given throughout the study significantly improved hemodynamic performance.
In plain wordsIn rats with heart injury, Tβ4 given throughout the study improved how the heart and blood flow worked.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
IncreaseHemodynamic performance with long term dosing
Study
ratn: not reported in source
chronic myocardial ischemia
Outcome group
Heart function · Cardiovascular
Studied dose
Dose not stated · systemic · first 3 days after injury and every third day until the end of the studyAs given in this study (rat).
Source sentences
Summary
Tβ4 administered throughout the study reduced infarct size and resulted in significant improvements in hemodynamic performance
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
we tested Tβ4 in a rat model of chronic myocardial ischemia using two dosing regimens: short term dosing (Tβ4 administered only during the first 3 days following injury), and long term dosing (Tβ4 administered during the first 3 days following injury and also every third day until the end of the study).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2434842102
03AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In rats with chronic myocardial ischemia, chamber volumes were not significantly improved with Tβ4 given throughout the study.
In plain wordsIn rats with heart injury, Tβ4 given throughout the study did not clearly improve heart chamber size.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
No significant changeChamber volumes with long term dosing
Study
ratn: not reported in source
chronic myocardial ischemia
Outcome group
Heart function · Cardiovascular
Studied dose
Dose not stated · systemic · first 3 days after injury and every third day until the end of the studyAs given in this study (rat).
Source sentences
Summary
chamber volumes and ejection fractions were not significantly improved.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
we tested Tβ4 in a rat model of chronic myocardial ischemia using two dosing regimens: short term dosing (Tβ4 administered only during the first 3 days following injury), and long term dosing (Tβ4 administered during the first 3 days following injury and also every third day until the end of the study).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2434842103
04AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In rats with chronic myocardial ischemia, ejection fractions were not significantly improved with Tβ4 given throughout the study.
In plain wordsIn rats with heart injury, Tβ4 given throughout the study did not clearly improve the heart's pumping fraction.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
No significant changeEjection fraction with long term dosing
Study
ratn: not reported in source
chronic myocardial ischemia
Outcome group
Heart function · Cardiovascular
Studied dose
Dose not stated · systemic · first 3 days after injury and every third day until the end of the studyAs given in this study (rat).
Source sentences
Summary
chamber volumes and ejection fractions were not significantly improved.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
we tested Tβ4 in a rat model of chronic myocardial ischemia using two dosing regimens: short term dosing (Tβ4 administered only during the first 3 days following injury), and long term dosing (Tβ4 administered during the first 3 days following injury and also every third day until the end of the study).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2434842104
05AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In rats with chronic myocardial ischemia, Tβ4 given only during the first 3 days tended to reduce infarct size.
In plain wordsIn rats with heart injury, Tβ4 given only in the first 3 days tended to reduce heart damage size.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
No significant changeInfarct size with short term dosing
Study
ratn: not reported in source
chronic myocardial ischemia
Outcome group
Heart function · Cardiovascular
Studied dose
Dose not stated · systemic · first 3 days after injuryAs given in this study (rat).
Source sentences
Summary
Tβ4 administered only during the first 3 days following injury tended to reduce infarct size, chamber volumes and improve hemodynamic performance.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
we tested Tβ4 in a rat model of chronic myocardial ischemia using two dosing regimens: short term dosing (Tβ4 administered only during the first 3 days following injury), and long term dosing (Tβ4 administered during the first 3 days following injury and also every third day until the end of the study).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2434842105
06AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In rats with chronic myocardial ischemia, Tβ4 given only during the first 3 days tended to reduce chamber volumes.
In plain wordsIn rats with heart injury, Tβ4 given only in the first 3 days tended to reduce heart chamber size.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
No significant changeChamber volumes with short term dosing
Study
ratn: not reported in source
chronic myocardial ischemia
Outcome group
Heart function · Cardiovascular
Studied dose
Dose not stated · systemic · first 3 days after injuryAs given in this study (rat).
Source sentences
Summary
Tβ4 administered only during the first 3 days following injury tended to reduce infarct size, chamber volumes and improve hemodynamic performance.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
we tested Tβ4 in a rat model of chronic myocardial ischemia using two dosing regimens: short term dosing (Tβ4 administered only during the first 3 days following injury), and long term dosing (Tβ4 administered during the first 3 days following injury and also every third day until the end of the study).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2434842106
07AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In rats with chronic myocardial ischemia, Tβ4 given only during the first 3 days tended to improve hemodynamic performance.
In plain wordsIn rats with heart injury, Tβ4 given only in the first 3 days tended to improve how the heart and blood flow worked.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
No significant changeHemodynamic performance with short term dosing
Study
ratn: not reported in source
chronic myocardial ischemia
Outcome group
Heart function · Cardiovascular
Studied dose
Dose not stated · systemic · first 3 days after injuryAs given in this study (rat).
Source sentences
Summary
Tβ4 administered only during the first 3 days following injury tended to reduce infarct size, chamber volumes and improve hemodynamic performance.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
we tested Tβ4 in a rat model of chronic myocardial ischemia using two dosing regimens: short term dosing (Tβ4 administered only during the first 3 days following injury), and long term dosing (Tβ4 administered during the first 3 days following injury and also every third day until the end of the study).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2434842107
08AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In rats with chronic myocardial ischemia, Tβ4 treatment significantly reduced plasma biomarkers of myocyte injury during the acute injury period.
In plain wordsIn rats with heart injury, Tβ4 lowered blood markers of heart muscle damage in the early period after injury.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
DecreasePlasma biomarkers of myocyte injury during the acute period
Study
ratn: not reported in source
chronic myocardial ischemia
Outcome group
Heart function · Cardiovascular
Studied dose
Dose not stated · systemicAs given in this study (rat).
Source sentences
Summary
Plasma biomarkers of myocyte injury were significantly reduced by Tβ4 treatment during the acute injury period
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
we tested Tβ4 in a rat model of chronic myocardial ischemia using two dosing regimens: short term dosing (Tβ4 administered only during the first 3 days following injury), and long term dosing (Tβ4 administered during the first 3 days following injury and also every third day until the end of the study).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2434842108
09AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In rats with chronic myocardial ischemia, plasma ANP levels were significantly reduced in both dosing groups.
In plain wordsIn rats with heart injury, Tβ4 lowered blood ANP levels with both short and long dosing.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
DecreasePlasma ANP levels
Study
ratn: not reported in source
chronic myocardial ischemia
Outcome group
Heart function · Cardiovascular
Studied dose
Dose not stated · systemicAs given in this study (rat).
Source sentences
Summary
plasma ANP levels were significantly reduced in both dosing groups.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
we tested Tβ4 in a rat model of chronic myocardial ischemia using two dosing regimens: short term dosing (Tβ4 administered only during the first 3 days following injury), and long term dosing (Tβ4 administered during the first 3 days following injury and also every third day until the end of the study).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2434842109
10AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In rats with chronic myocardial ischemia, neither acute nor chronic Tβ4 treatment significantly increased blood vessel density in peri-infarct regions.
In plain wordsIn rats with heart injury, Tβ4 did not clearly increase blood vessel density near the damaged heart area.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
No significant changeBlood vessel density in peri-infarct regions
Study
ratn: not reported in source
chronic myocardial ischemia
Outcome group
Heart function · Cardiovascular
Studied dose
Dose not stated · systemicAs given in this study (rat).
Source sentences
Summary
neither acute nor chronic Tβ4 treatment significantly increased blood vessel density in peri-infarct regions.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
we tested Tβ4 in a rat model of chronic myocardial ischemia using two dosing regimens: short term dosing (Tβ4 administered only during the first 3 days following injury), and long term dosing (Tβ4 administered during the first 3 days following injury and also every third day until the end of the study).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2434842110

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

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Version 2Current
13 Oct 2026, 01:52 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
12 Oct 2026, 18:17 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

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