Recombinant Human Thymosin Beta-4 Protects against Mouse Coronavirus Infection.

Yu R, Mao Y, Li K, Zhai Y, Zhang Y, Liu S, Gao Y, Chen Z, Liu Y, Fang T, Zhao M, Li R, Xu J, Chen W

Mediators of inflammation21 Apr 2021Cited by 10 (Europe PMC)

PMID33967626PMCIDPMC8081638DOI10.1155/2021/9979032PepBankPUB-33967626

Summary

Coronaviruses (CoVs) are enveloped and harbor an unusually large (30-32 kb) positive-strand linear RNA genome. Highly pathogenic coronaviruses cause severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) (SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) (MERS-CoV) in humans. The coronavirus mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) infects mice and serves as an ideal model of viral pathogenesis, mainly because experiments can be conducted using animal-biosafety level-2 (A-BSL2) containment. Human thymosin beta-4 (Tβ4), a 43-residue peptide with an acetylated N-terminus, is widely expressed in human tissues. Tβ4 regulates actin polymerization and functions as an anti-inflammatory molecule and an antioxidant as well as a promoter of wound healing and angiogenesis. These activities led us to test whether Tβ4 serves to treat coronavirus infections of humans. To test this possibility, here, we established a BALB/c mouse model of coronavirus infection using mouse CoV MHV-A59 to evaluate the potential protective effect of recombinant human Tβ4 (rhTβ4). Such a system can be employed under A-BSL2 containment instead of A-BSL3 that is required to study coronaviruses infectious for humans. We found that rhTβ4 significantly increased the survival rate of mice infected with MHV-A59 through inhibiting virus replication, balancing the host's immune response, alleviating pathological damage, and promoting repair of the liver. These results will serve as the basis for further application of rhTβ4 to the treatment of human CoV diseases such as COVID-19.

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

Results from this study5

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

01AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In BALB/c mice infected with MHV-A59, rhTβ4 significantly increased the survival rate.
In plain wordsIn mice infected with a mouse coronavirus, recombinant human Tβ4 increased survival.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
IncreaseSurvival rate
Study
mousen: not reported in source
BALB/c mouse MHV-A59 coronavirus infection
Comparator
Infected mice without rhTβ4
Outcome group
Mortality · Infection
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
We found that rhTβ4 significantly increased the survival rate of mice infected with MHV-A59
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
To test this possibility, here, we established a BALB/c mouse model of coronavirus infection using mouse CoV MHV-A59 to evaluate the potential protective effect of recombinant human Tβ4 (rhTβ4).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3396762601
02AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In BALB/c mice infected with MHV-A59, rhTβ4 inhibited virus replication.
In plain wordsIn mice infected with a mouse coronavirus, recombinant human Tβ4 reduced virus replication.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
DecreaseVirus replication
Study
mousen: not reported in source
BALB/c mouse MHV-A59 coronavirus infection
Comparator
Infected mice without rhTβ4
Outcome group
Antiviral activity · Infection
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
We found that rhTβ4 significantly increased the survival rate of mice infected with MHV-A59 through inhibiting virus replication, balancing the host's immune response, alleviating pathological damage, and promoting repair of the liver.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
To test this possibility, here, we established a BALB/c mouse model of coronavirus infection using mouse CoV MHV-A59 to evaluate the potential protective effect of recombinant human Tβ4 (rhTβ4).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3396762602
03AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In BALB/c mice infected with MHV-A59, rhTβ4 balanced the host's immune response.
In plain wordsIn mice infected with a mouse coronavirus, recombinant human Tβ4 balanced the immune response.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
MixedHost immune response
Study
mousen: not reported in source
BALB/c mouse MHV-A59 coronavirus infection
Comparator
Infected mice without rhTβ4
Outcome group
Immune response · Immune and inflammation
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
We found that rhTβ4 significantly increased the survival rate of mice infected with MHV-A59 through inhibiting virus replication, balancing the host's immune response, alleviating pathological damage, and promoting repair of the liver.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
To test this possibility, here, we established a BALB/c mouse model of coronavirus infection using mouse CoV MHV-A59 to evaluate the potential protective effect of recombinant human Tβ4 (rhTβ4).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3396762603
04AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In BALB/c mice infected with MHV-A59, rhTβ4 alleviated pathological damage.
In plain wordsIn mice infected with a mouse coronavirus, recombinant human Tβ4 reduced tissue damage.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
DecreasePathological damage
Study
mousen: not reported in source
BALB/c mouse MHV-A59 coronavirus infection
Comparator
Infected mice without rhTβ4
Outcome group
Infection and antimicrobial activity · Infection
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
We found that rhTβ4 significantly increased the survival rate of mice infected with MHV-A59 through inhibiting virus replication, balancing the host's immune response, alleviating pathological damage, and promoting repair of the liver.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
To test this possibility, here, we established a BALB/c mouse model of coronavirus infection using mouse CoV MHV-A59 to evaluate the potential protective effect of recombinant human Tβ4 (rhTβ4).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3396762604
05AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In BALB/c mice infected with MHV-A59, rhTβ4 promoted repair of the liver.
In plain wordsIn mice infected with a mouse coronavirus, recombinant human Tβ4 promoted liver repair.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
IncreaseLiver repair
Study
mousen: not reported in source
BALB/c mouse MHV-A59 coronavirus infection
Comparator
Infected mice without rhTβ4
Outcome group
Liver fat and liver function · Liver
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
We found that rhTβ4 significantly increased the survival rate of mice infected with MHV-A59 through inhibiting virus replication, balancing the host's immune response, alleviating pathological damage, and promoting repair of the liver.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
To test this possibility, here, we established a BALB/c mouse model of coronavirus infection using mouse CoV MHV-A59 to evaluate the potential protective effect of recombinant human Tβ4 (rhTβ4).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3396762605

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.

Publication types

MeSH terms

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