Thymosin β4 Improves Differentiation and Vascularization of EHTs.

Ziegler T, Hinkel R, Stöhr A, Eschenhagen T, Laugwitz KL, le Noble F, David R, Hansen A, Kupatt C

Stem cells international16 Jan 2017Cited by 6 (Europe PMC)

PMID28191018PMCIDPMC5278226DOI10.1155/2017/6848271PepBankPUB-28191018

Summary

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) constitute a powerful tool to study cardiac physiology and represents a promising treatment strategy to tackle cardiac disease. However, iPSCs remain relatively immature after differentiation. Additionally, engineered heart tissue (EHT) has been investigated as a therapy option in preclinical disease models with promising results, although their vascularization and functionality leave room for improvement. Thymosin β4 (Tβ4) has been shown to promote the differentiation of progenitor cell lines to cardiomyocytes while it also induces angiogenic sprouting and vascular maturation. We examined the potential impact of Tβ4 to enhance maturation of cardiomyocytes from iPSCs. Assessing the expression of transcription factors associated with cardiac differentiation, we were able to demonstrate the increased generation of cells displaying cardiomyocyte characteristics in vitro. Furthermore, we demonstrated, in a zebrafish model of embryonic vascular development, that Tβ4 is crucial for the proper execution of lymphatic and angiogenic vessel sprouting. Finally, utilizing Tβ4-transduced EHTs generated from mice genetically engineered to label endothelial cells in vitro, we show that treatment with Tβ4 promotes vascularization and contractility in EHTs, highlighting Tβ4 as a growth factor improving the formation of cardiomyocytes from iPSC and enhancing the performance of EHTs generated from neonatal cardiomyocytes.

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

Results from this study5

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

01LabIn vitro (cells)Efficacy outcome
In iPSC cultures, Tβ4 increased the generation of cells with cardiomyocyte characteristics in vitro.
In plain wordsIn cells, Tβ4 led to more cells with heart muscle cell features.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
IncreaseGeneration of cardiomyocyte-like cells from iPSC
Study
n: not reported in source
iPSC-derived cells
Outcome group
Heart repair and regeneration · Cardiovascular
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
Assessing the expression of transcription factors associated with cardiac differentiation, we were able to demonstrate the increased generation of cells displaying cardiomyocyte characteristics in vitro.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2819101801

Studies that did not test the peptide alone4

In this study, Thymosin beta-4 (human) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. These results are not evidence about taking Thymosin beta-4 (human).

02AnimalNot a test of Thymosin beta-4 (human) aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In zebrafish embryos, Tβ4 was required for proper execution of lymphatic vessel sprouting.
In plain wordsIn zebrafish, Tβ4 was needed for normal growth of lymph vessels.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
Not applicableLymphatic vessel sprouting
Study
zebrafishn: not reported in source
embryonic vascular development model
Outcome group
Angiogenesis · Cardiovascular
Source sentences
Summary
we demonstrated, in a zebrafish model of embryonic vascular development, that Tβ4 is crucial for the proper execution of lymphatic and angiogenic vessel sprouting.
In this study, Thymosin beta-4 (human) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Thymosin beta-4 (human).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2819101802
03AnimalNot a test of Thymosin beta-4 (human) aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In zebrafish embryos, Tβ4 was required for proper execution of angiogenic vessel sprouting.
In plain wordsIn zebrafish, Tβ4 was needed for normal growth of blood vessels.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
Not applicableAngiogenic vessel sprouting
Study
zebrafishn: not reported in source
embryonic vascular development model
Outcome group
Angiogenesis · Cardiovascular
Source sentences
Summary
we demonstrated, in a zebrafish model of embryonic vascular development, that Tβ4 is crucial for the proper execution of lymphatic and angiogenic vessel sprouting.
In this study, Thymosin beta-4 (human) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Thymosin beta-4 (human).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2819101803
04LabNot a test of Thymosin beta-4 (human) aloneEx vivo tissueEfficacy outcome
In engineered heart tissues from mouse cells, Tβ4 treatment promoted vascularization.
In plain wordsIn lab-grown mouse heart tissue made from cells with raised Tβ4 gene activity, blood vessel formation went up.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
IncreaseVascularization of engineered heart tissue
Study
mousen: not reported in source
engineered heart tissue from neonatal cardiomyocytes
Outcome group
Angiogenesis · Cardiovascular
Source sentences
Summary
treatment with Tβ4 promotes vascularization and contractility in EHTs
In this study, Thymosin beta-4 (human) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Thymosin beta-4 (human).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2819101804
05LabNot a test of Thymosin beta-4 (human) aloneEx vivo tissueEfficacy outcome
In engineered heart tissues from mouse cells, Tβ4 treatment promoted contractility.
In plain wordsIn lab-grown mouse heart tissue made from cells with raised Tβ4 gene activity, contraction strength went up.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
IncreaseContractility of engineered heart tissue
Study
mousen: not reported in source
engineered heart tissue from neonatal cardiomyocytes
Outcome group
Heart function · Cardiovascular
Source sentences
Summary
treatment with Tβ4 promotes vascularization and contractility in EHTs
In this study, Thymosin beta-4 (human) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Thymosin beta-4 (human).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2819101805

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

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

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

Subjects

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Publication types

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