Thymosin β4 Prevents Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Fibrosis in Ethanol- and LPS-Induced Liver Injury in Mice.

Shah R, Reyes-Gordillo K, Cheng Y, Varatharajalu R, Ibrahim J, Lakshman MR

Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity11 Jul 2018Cited by 49 (Europe PMC)

PMID30116499PMCIDPMC6079392DOI10.1155/2018/9630175PepBankPUB-30116499

Summary

Thymosin beta 4 (Tβ4), an actin-sequestering protein, is involved in tissue development and regeneration. It prevents inflammation and fibrosis in several tissues. We investigated the role of Tβ4 in chronic ethanol- and acute lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) induced mouse liver injury. C57BL/6 mice were fed 5% ethanol in liquid diet for 4 weeks plus binge ethanol (5 g/kg, gavage) with or without LPS (2 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) for 6 hours. Tβ4 (1 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) was administered for 1 week. We demonstrated that Tβ4 prevented ethanol- and LPS-mediated increase in liver injury markers as well as changes in liver pathology. It also prevented ethanol- and LPS-mediated increase in oxidative stress by decreasing ROS and lipid peroxidation and increasing the antioxidants, reduced glutathione and manganese-dependent superoxide dismutase. It also prevented the activation of nuclear factor kappa B by blocking the phosphorylation of the inhibitory protein, IκB, thereby prevented proinflammatory cytokine production. Moreover, Tβ4 prevented fibrogenesis by suppressing the epigenetic repressor, methyl-CpG-binding protein 2, that coordinately reversed the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ and downregulated fibrogenic genes, platelet-derived growth factor-β receptor, α-smooth muscle actin, collagen 1, and fibronectin, resulting in reduced fibrosis. Our data suggest that Tβ4 has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antifibrotic potential during alcoholic liver injury.

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 mice with ethanol- and LPS-induced liver injury, thymosin beta‑4 prevented the rise in liver injury markers.
In plain wordsIn mice with alcohol- and LPS-induced liver injury, thymosin beta‑4 stopped liver injury markers from rising.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
DecreaseLiver injury markers
Study
mousen: not reported in source
Chronic ethanol plus binge, with or without LPS, liver injury
Outcome group
Liver fat and liver function · Liver
Studied dose
1 mg/kg · intraperitoneal · 1 weekAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
prevented ethanol- and LPS-mediated increase in liver injury markers as well as changes in liver pathology.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
C57BL/6 mice were fed 5% ethanol in liquid diet for 4 weeks plus binge ethanol (5 g/kg, gavage) with or without LPS (2 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) for 6 hours.
Summary · context
Tβ4 (1 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) was administered for 1 week.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3011649901
02AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In mice with ethanol- and LPS-induced liver injury, thymosin beta‑4 prevented changes in liver pathology.
In plain wordsIn mice with alcohol- and LPS-induced liver injury, thymosin beta‑4 prevented changes in liver tissue appearance.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
DecreaseLiver pathology
Study
mousen: not reported in source
Chronic ethanol plus binge, with or without LPS, liver injury
Outcome group
Liver fat and liver function · Liver
Studied dose
1 mg/kg · intraperitoneal · 1 weekAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
as well as changes in liver pathology.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
C57BL/6 mice were fed 5% ethanol in liquid diet for 4 weeks plus binge ethanol (5 g/kg, gavage) with or without LPS (2 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) for 6 hours.
Summary · context
Tβ4 (1 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) was administered for 1 week.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3011649902
03AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In mice with ethanol- and LPS-induced liver injury, thymosin beta‑4 prevented the rise in oxidative stress by decreasing ROS and lipid peroxidation.
In plain wordsIn mice with alcohol- and LPS-induced liver injury, thymosin beta‑4 lowered markers of oxidative stress.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
DecreaseROS and lipid peroxidation
Study
mousen: not reported in source
Chronic ethanol plus binge, with or without LPS, liver injury
Outcome group
Inflammation markers · Liver
Studied dose
1 mg/kg · intraperitoneal · 1 weekAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
decreasing ROS and lipid peroxidation
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
C57BL/6 mice were fed 5% ethanol in liquid diet for 4 weeks plus binge ethanol (5 g/kg, gavage) with or without LPS (2 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) for 6 hours.
Summary · context
Tβ4 (1 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) was administered for 1 week.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3011649903
04AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In mice with ethanol- and LPS-induced liver injury, thymosin beta‑4 increased the antioxidants reduced glutathione and manganese-dependent superoxide dismutase.
In plain wordsIn mice with alcohol- and LPS-induced liver injury, thymosin beta‑4 raised levels of two antioxidants.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
IncreaseReduced glutathione and manganese-dependent superoxide dismutase
Study
mousen: not reported in source
Chronic ethanol plus binge, with or without LPS, liver injury
Outcome group
Inflammation markers · Liver
Studied dose
1 mg/kg · intraperitoneal · 1 weekAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
increasing the antioxidants, reduced glutathione and manganese-dependent superoxide dismutase
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
C57BL/6 mice were fed 5% ethanol in liquid diet for 4 weeks plus binge ethanol (5 g/kg, gavage) with or without LPS (2 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) for 6 hours.
Summary · context
Tβ4 (1 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) was administered for 1 week.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3011649904
05AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In mice with ethanol- and LPS-induced liver injury, thymosin beta‑4 prevented activation of nuclear factor kappa B by blocking IkB phosphorylation.
In plain wordsIn mice with alcohol- and LPS-induced liver injury, thymosin beta‑4 blocked a key inflammation switch.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
DecreaseNF-kB activation and IkB phosphorylation
Study
mousen: not reported in source
Chronic ethanol plus binge, with or without LPS, liver injury
Outcome group
Inflammation markers · Immune and inflammation
Studied dose
1 mg/kg · intraperitoneal · 1 weekAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
prevented the activation of nuclear factor kappa B by blocking the phosphorylation of the inhibitory protein
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
C57BL/6 mice were fed 5% ethanol in liquid diet for 4 weeks plus binge ethanol (5 g/kg, gavage) with or without LPS (2 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) for 6 hours.
Summary · context
Tβ4 (1 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) was administered for 1 week.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3011649905
06AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In mice with ethanol- and LPS-induced liver injury, thymosin beta‑4 prevented proinflammatory cytokine production.
In plain wordsIn mice with alcohol- and LPS-induced liver injury, thymosin beta‑4 prevented production of inflammatory signals.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
DecreaseProinflammatory cytokine production
Study
mousen: not reported in source
Chronic ethanol plus binge, with or without LPS, liver injury
Outcome group
Inflammation markers · Immune and inflammation
Studied dose
1 mg/kg · intraperitoneal · 1 weekAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
thereby prevented proinflammatory cytokine production.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
C57BL/6 mice were fed 5% ethanol in liquid diet for 4 weeks plus binge ethanol (5 g/kg, gavage) with or without LPS (2 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) for 6 hours.
Summary · context
Tβ4 (1 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) was administered for 1 week.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3011649906
07AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In mice with ethanol- and LPS-induced liver injury, thymosin beta‑4 suppressed the epigenetic repressor methyl-CpG-binding protein 2.
In plain wordsIn mice with alcohol- and LPS-induced liver injury, thymosin beta‑4 suppressed a regulatory protein that the abstract links to fibrosis.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
DecreaseMethyl-CpG-binding protein 2 suppression
Study
mousen: not reported in source
Chronic ethanol plus binge, with or without LPS, liver injury
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Liver
Studied dose
1 mg/kg · intraperitoneal · 1 weekAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
prevented fibrogenesis by suppressing the epigenetic repressor, methyl-CpG-binding protein 2
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
C57BL/6 mice were fed 5% ethanol in liquid diet for 4 weeks plus binge ethanol (5 g/kg, gavage) with or without LPS (2 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) for 6 hours.
Summary · context
Tβ4 (1 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) was administered for 1 week.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3011649907
08AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In mice with ethanol- and LPS-induced liver injury, thymosin beta‑4 reversed the change in peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma expression.
In plain wordsIn mice with alcohol- and LPS-induced liver injury, thymosin beta‑4 reversed a change in one gene's expression.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
Direction not reportedPPAR-gamma expression
Study
mousen: not reported in source
Chronic ethanol plus binge, with or without LPS, liver injury
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Liver
Studied dose
1 mg/kg · intraperitoneal · 1 weekAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
that coordinately reversed the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
C57BL/6 mice were fed 5% ethanol in liquid diet for 4 weeks plus binge ethanol (5 g/kg, gavage) with or without LPS (2 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) for 6 hours.
Summary · context
Tβ4 (1 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) was administered for 1 week.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3011649908
09AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In mice with ethanol- and LPS-induced liver injury, thymosin beta‑4 downregulated the fibrogenic genes PDGF-beta receptor, alpha-SMA, collagen 1 and fibronectin.
In plain wordsIn mice with alcohol- and LPS-induced liver injury, thymosin beta‑4 lowered the activity of genes that drive scarring.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
DecreaseFibrogenic gene expression
Study
mousen: not reported in source
Chronic ethanol plus binge, with or without LPS, liver injury
Outcome group
Liver fat and liver function · Liver
Studied dose
1 mg/kg · intraperitoneal · 1 weekAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
downregulated fibrogenic genes, platelet-derived growth factor-β receptor, α-smooth muscle actin, collagen 1, and fibronectin
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
C57BL/6 mice were fed 5% ethanol in liquid diet for 4 weeks plus binge ethanol (5 g/kg, gavage) with or without LPS (2 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) for 6 hours.
Summary · context
Tβ4 (1 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) was administered for 1 week.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3011649909
10AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In mice with ethanol- and LPS-induced liver injury, thymosin beta‑4 reduced fibrosis.
In plain wordsIn mice with alcohol- and LPS-induced liver injury, thymosin beta‑4 reduced liver scarring.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
DecreaseLiver fibrosis
Study
mousen: not reported in source
Chronic ethanol plus binge, with or without LPS, liver injury
Outcome group
Liver fat and liver function · Liver
Studied dose
1 mg/kg · intraperitoneal · 1 weekAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
resulting in reduced fibrosis.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
C57BL/6 mice were fed 5% ethanol in liquid diet for 4 weeks plus binge ethanol (5 g/kg, gavage) with or without LPS (2 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) for 6 hours.
Summary · context
Tβ4 (1 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) was administered for 1 week.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3011649910

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

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