Multiple functions of thymosin β4 in the pearl oyster Pinctada fucata suggest its multiple potential roles in artificial pearl culture.

Bai L, He W, Fan S, Liu B, Zhou T, Zhang D, Zhang D, Yu D

Fish & shellfish immunology26 Apr 2020Cited by 2 (Europe PMC)

PMID32348884DOI10.1016/j.fsi.2020.04.040PepBankPUB-32348884

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Summary

The text of this summary is not shown here, because the article license does not allow reuse. Read it at the source (opens in a new tab)

Text rights: Publisher copyright. Results still quote short attributed sentences.

Results from this study8

No result from this study comes from a test of the peptide.

Natural levels measured1

These results measure the body's own peptide. Nobody was given the peptide. They are not evidence about taking it. They are left out of key results, evidence counts and charts.

01AnimalEndogenous levelAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In pearl oysters challenged with bacterial pathogens or LPS, Pfthymosin β4 mRNA expression rose significantly.
In plain wordsIn pearl oysters, the animal's own Pfthymosin β4 gene activity rose after bacterial or LPS challenge.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
IncreasePfthymosin β4 mRNA expression after challenge
Study
Pinctada fucatan: not reported in source
Pearl oyster challenged with bacteria or LPS
Outcome group
Immune response · Immune and inflammation
Source sentences
Summary
Our results showed that when P. fucata was challenged by bacterial pathogens or LPS, the relative expression level of Pfthymosin β4 mRNA was significantly up-regulated, suggesting its involvement in immune response of the animal.
This result measures the body's own Thymosin beta-4 (human). Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Report a problemFND-3234888401

Studies that did not test the peptide alone7

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)Efficacy outcome
In pearl oysters, chemically synthesized or recombinant Pfthymosin β4 transiently increased circulating total hemocyte counts.
In plain wordsIn pearl oysters, synthetic or recombinant Pfthymosin β4 briefly raised the number of circulating immune cells.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
IncreaseCirculating total hemocyte count after Pfthymosin β4
Study
Pinctada fucatan: not reported in source
Pearl oyster
Outcome group
Immune response · Immune and inflammation
Source sentences
Summary
chemically synthesized or recombinant Pfthymosin β4 could transiently increase the circulating total hemocytes counts
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).
Report a problemFND-3234888407
03AnimalNot a test of Thymosin beta-4 (human) aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In pearl oysters, RNAi against Pfthymosin β4 reduced circulating total hemocyte counts.
In plain wordsIn pearl oysters, switching off the animal's own Pfthymosin β4 gene lowered circulating immune cell counts.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
DecreaseHemocyte count after Pfthymosin β4 RNAi
Study
Pinctada fucatan: not reported in source
Pearl oyster with RNAi
Outcome group
Immune response · Immune and inflammation
Source sentences
Summary
but down-regulated by RNAi in P. fucata.
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).
Report a problemFND-3234888408
04LabNot a test of Thymosin beta-4 (human) aloneIn vitro (cells)Activity measurement
Recombinant Pfthymosin β4 showed different antibacterial activities against different pathogenic bacteria in vitro.
In plain wordsIn lab tests, recombinant oyster Pfthymosin β4 slowed the growth of some bacteria more than others.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
DecreaseAntibacterial activity of rPfthymosin β4
Study
bacterian: not reported in source
Pathogenic bacteria
Outcome group
Infection and antimicrobial activity · Infection
Source sentences
Summary
Recombinant Pfthymosin β4 (rPfthymosin β4) was produced and showed in vitro different antibacterial activities against different pathogenic bacteria
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).
Report a problemFND-3234888402
05LabNot a test of Thymosin beta-4 (human) aloneIn vitro (cells)Activity measurement
The inhibitory effect of rPfthymosin β4 on bacterial growth was relatively stronger in broth culture than in agar culture.
In plain wordsIn lab tests, recombinant oyster Pfthymosin β4 limited bacterial growth more in broth than on agar.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
Not applicableInhibition of bacterial growth, broth versus agar
Study
bacterian: not reported in source
Pathogenic bacteria in broth and agar culture
Comparator
Agar culture
Outcome group
Infection and antimicrobial activity · Infection
Source sentences
Summary
the inhibitory effect of rPfthymosin β4 on bacterial growth was relatively stronger in the broth culture than agar culture.
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).
Report a problemFND-3234888403
06LabNot a test of Thymosin beta-4 (human) aloneIn vitro (cells)Mechanism
Overexpression of Pfthymosin β4 in E. coli cells improved their resistance to copper, zinc and cadmium ions and to hydrogen peroxide.
In plain wordsIn bacterial cells, making extra oyster Pfthymosin β4 improved resistance to metal ions and hydrogen peroxide.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
IncreaseResistance of E. coli to metal ions and hydrogen peroxide
Study
Escherichia colin: not reported in source
E. coli BL21(DE3) cells overexpressing Pfthymosin β4
Outcome group
Oxidative stress · Whole body
Source sentences
Summary
The overexpression of Pfthymosin β4 in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) cells could improve their resistance to Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, and H₂O₂
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).
Report a problemFND-3234888404
07LabNot a test of Thymosin beta-4 (human) aloneIn vitro (cells)Efficacy outcome
rPfthymosin β4 significantly promoted the proliferation of mouse aortic vascular smooth muscle cells in an MTT assay.
In plain wordsIn cells, recombinant oyster Pfthymosin β4 increased the growth of mouse blood vessel muscle cells.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
IncreaseProliferation of smooth muscle cells (MTT assay)
Study
mousen: not reported in source
Mouse aortic vascular smooth muscle cells
Outcome group
Cell proliferation and differentiation · Cardiovascular
Source sentences
Summary
rPfthymosin β4 also significantly promoted the proliferation and migration of mouse aortic vascular smooth muscle cells as indicated by MTT assay and cell scratch assay, respectively.
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).
Report a problemFND-3234888405
08LabNot a test of Thymosin beta-4 (human) aloneIn vitro (cells)Efficacy outcome
rPfthymosin β4 significantly promoted the migration of mouse aortic vascular smooth muscle cells in a cell scratch assay.
In plain wordsIn cells, recombinant oyster Pfthymosin β4 increased the movement of mouse blood vessel muscle cells.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
IncreaseMigration of smooth muscle cells (scratch assay)
Study
mousen: not reported in source
Mouse aortic vascular smooth muscle cells
Outcome group
Cell proliferation and differentiation · Cardiovascular
Source sentences
Summary
rPfthymosin β4 also significantly promoted the proliferation and migration of mouse aortic vascular smooth muscle cells as indicated by MTT assay and cell scratch assay, respectively.
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).
Report a problemFND-3234888406

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

Terms as the source lists them.

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