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Study · In vitro (cells) · 2019

4 results

Bioactive Thymosin Alpha-1 Does Not Influence F508del-CFTR Maturation and Activity.

Armirotti A, Tomati V, Matthes E, Veit G, Cholon DM, Phuan PW, Braccia C, Guidone D, Gentzsch M, Lukacs GL, Verkman AS, Galietta LJV, Hanrahan JW, Pedemonte N

Scientific reports16 Jul 2019Cited by 8 (Europe PMC)

PMID31311979 (opens in a new tab)PMCIDPMC6635361 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1038/s41598-019-46639-1 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-31311979
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Summary

Deletion of phenylalanine 508 (F508del) in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) anion channel is the most frequent mutation causing cystic fibrosis (CF). F508del-CFTR is misfolded and prematurely degraded. Recently thymosin a-1 (Tα-1) was proposed as a single molecule-based therapy for CF, improving both F508del-CFTR maturation and function by restoring defective autophagy. However, three independent laboratories failed to reproduce these results. Lack of reproducibility has been ascribed by the authors of the original paper to the use of DMSO and to improper handling. Here, we address these potential issues by demonstrating that Tα-1 changes induced by DMSO are fully reversible and that Tα-1 peptides prepared from different stock solutions have equivalent biological activity. Considering the negative results here reported, six independent laboratories failed to demonstrate F508del-CFTR correction by Tα-1. This study also calls into question the autophagy modulator cysteamine, since no rescue of mutant CFTR function was detected following treatment with cysteamine, while deleterious effects were observed when bronchial epithelia were exposed to cysteamine plus the antioxidant food supplement EGCG. Although these studies do not exclude the possibility of beneficial immunomodulatory effects of thymosin α-1, they do not support its utility as a corrector of F508del-CFTR.
CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study4

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

  1. 01LabIn vitro (cells)Activity measurement

    In lab tests, Tα-1 did not correct F508del-CFTR maturation; six independent laboratories failed to demonstrate correction.

    In plain wordsIn lab tests, thymosin alpha‑1 did not fix the faulty CFTR protein.

    Peptide
    Thymosin alpha-1
    Outcome
    No significant changeF508del-CFTR maturation
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Outcome group
    Receptor activity and mechanism · Respiratory
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Considering the negative results here reported, six independent laboratories failed to demonstrate F508del-CFTR correction by Tα-1.
    1 context sentence
    Title · context
    Bioactive Thymosin Alpha-1 Does Not Influence F508del-CFTR Maturation and Activity.
  2. 02LabIn vitro (cells)Activity measurement

    In lab tests, Tα-1 did not correct F508del-CFTR activity.

    In plain wordsIn lab tests, thymosin alpha‑1 did not restore the faulty CFTR channel function.

    Peptide
    Thymosin alpha-1
    Outcome
    No significant changeF508del-CFTR function
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Outcome group
    Receptor activity and mechanism · Respiratory
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Considering the negative results here reported, six independent laboratories failed to demonstrate F508del-CFTR correction by Tα-1.
    1 context sentence
    Title · context
    Bioactive Thymosin Alpha-1 Does Not Influence F508del-CFTR Maturation and Activity.

Studies that did not test the peptide alone2

In this study, Thymosin alpha-1 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 alpha-1.

  1. 03LabNot a test of Thymosin alpha-1 aloneIn vitro (cells)Other

    Tα-1 changes induced by DMSO were fully reversible.

    In plain wordsIn lab tests, changes that DMSO caused in thymosin alpha‑1 were fully reversible.

    Peptide
    Thymosin alpha-1
    Outcome
    Not applicableReversibility of DMSO-induced changes in Tα-1
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Outcome group
    Synthesis and manufacturing · Pharmacology

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Tα-1 changes induced by DMSO are fully reversible

    In this study, Thymosin alpha-1 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 alpha-1.

  2. 04LabNot a test of Thymosin alpha-1 aloneIn vitro (cells)Other

    Tα-1 peptides prepared from different stock solutions had equivalent biological activity.

    In plain wordsIn lab tests, thymosin alpha‑1 made from different stock solutions had the same activity.

    Peptide
    Thymosin alpha-1
    Outcome
    No significant changeBiological activity of Tα-1 from different stock solutions
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Outcome group
    Synthesis and manufacturing · Pharmacology

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Tα-1 peptides prepared from different stock solutions have equivalent biological activity.

    In this study, Thymosin alpha-1 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 alpha-1.

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.

  1. Version 3Current

    10 Oct 2026, 08:55 UTC

    Study results updated

  2. Version 2

    9 Oct 2026, 03:03 UTC

    Study data updated · source update from Europe PMC

  3. Version 1

    9 Oct 2026, 03:02 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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