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Study · In vitro (cells) · 2022

5 results

Thymosin-α1 binds with ACE and downregulates the expression of ACE2 in human respiratory epithelia.

Zhang YH, Wang WY, Pang XC, Wang Z, Wang CZ, Zhou H, Zheng B, Cui YM

Frontiers in bioscience (Landmark edition)1 Feb 2022Cited by 6 (Europe PMC)

PMID35226991 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.31083/j.fbl2702048 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-35226991
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Summary

BackgroundThymosin-α1 has been implicated into the treatment of novel respiratory virus Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), but the underlying mechanisms are still disputable.AimHerein we aimed to reveal a previously unrecognized mechanism that thymosin-α1 prevents COVID-19 by binding with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), which was inspired from the tool of network pharmacology.MethodsKEGG pathway enrichment of thymosin-α1 treating COVID-19 was analyzed by Database of Functional Annotation Bioinformatics Microarray Analysis, then core targets were validated by ligand binding kinetics assay and fluorometric detection of ACE and ACE2 enzymatic activity. The production of angiotensin I, angiotensin II, angiotensin (1-7) and angiotensin (1-9) were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.ResultsWe found that thymosin-α1 impaired the expressions of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 and angiotensin (1-7) of human lung epithelial cells in a dose-dependent way (p < 0.001). In contrast, thymosin-α1 had no impact on their ACE and angiotensin (1-9) expressions but significantly inhibited the enzymatic activity of ACE (p > 0.05).ConclusionThe bioinformatic findings of network pharmacology and the corresponding pharmacological validations have revealed that thymosin-α1 treatment could decrease ACE2 expression in human lung epithelial cells, which strengthens the potential clinical applications of thymosin-α1 to prevent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection.
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.

  1. 01LabIn vitro (cells)Mechanism

    In human lung epithelial cells, thymosin-α1 reduced ACE2 expression in a dose-dependent way.

    In plain wordsIn cells, thymosin-α1 lowered ACE2 levels as the dose rose.

    Peptide
    Thymosin alpha-1
    Outcome
    DecreaseACE2 expression
    Study

    humann: not reported in source

    Human lung epithelial cells
    Outcome group
    Receptor activity and mechanism · Respiratory
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    We found that thymosin-α1 impaired the expressions of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 and angiotensin (1-7) of human lung epithelial cells in a dose-dependent way (p < 0.001).
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    KEGG pathway enrichment of thymosin-α1 treating COVID-19 was analyzed by Database of Functional Annotation Bioinformatics Microarray Analysis, then core targets were validated by ligand binding kinetics assay and fluorometric detection of ACE and ACE2 enzymatic activity.
  2. 02LabIn vitro (cells)Mechanism

    In human lung epithelial cells, thymosin-α1 reduced angiotensin (1-7) expression in a dose-dependent way.

    In plain wordsIn cells, thymosin-α1 lowered angiotensin (1-7) as the dose rose.

    Peptide
    Thymosin alpha-1
    Outcome
    DecreaseAngiotensin (1-7) expression
    Study

    humann: not reported in source

    Human lung epithelial cells
    Outcome group
    Receptor activity and mechanism · Respiratory
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    We found that thymosin-α1 impaired the expressions of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 and angiotensin (1-7) of human lung epithelial cells in a dose-dependent way (p < 0.001).
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    KEGG pathway enrichment of thymosin-α1 treating COVID-19 was analyzed by Database of Functional Annotation Bioinformatics Microarray Analysis, then core targets were validated by ligand binding kinetics assay and fluorometric detection of ACE and ACE2 enzymatic activity.
  3. 03LabIn vitro (cells)Mechanism

    In human lung epithelial cells, thymosin-α1 had no impact on ACE expression.

    In plain wordsIn cells, thymosin-α1 did not change ACE levels.

    Peptide
    Thymosin alpha-1
    Outcome
    No significant changeACE expression
    Study

    humann: not reported in source

    Human lung epithelial cells
    Outcome group
    Receptor activity and mechanism · Respiratory
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    In contrast, thymosin-α1 had no impact on their ACE and angiotensin (1-9) expressions but significantly inhibited the enzymatic activity of ACE (p > 0.05).
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    KEGG pathway enrichment of thymosin-α1 treating COVID-19 was analyzed by Database of Functional Annotation Bioinformatics Microarray Analysis, then core targets were validated by ligand binding kinetics assay and fluorometric detection of ACE and ACE2 enzymatic activity.
  4. 04LabIn vitro (cells)Mechanism

    In human lung epithelial cells, thymosin-α1 had no impact on angiotensin (1-9) expression.

    In plain wordsIn cells, thymosin-α1 did not change angiotensin (1-9) levels.

    Peptide
    Thymosin alpha-1
    Outcome
    No significant changeAngiotensin (1-9) expression
    Study

    humann: not reported in source

    Human lung epithelial cells
    Outcome group
    Receptor activity and mechanism · Respiratory
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    In contrast, thymosin-α1 had no impact on their ACE and angiotensin (1-9) expressions but significantly inhibited the enzymatic activity of ACE (p > 0.05).
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    KEGG pathway enrichment of thymosin-α1 treating COVID-19 was analyzed by Database of Functional Annotation Bioinformatics Microarray Analysis, then core targets were validated by ligand binding kinetics assay and fluorometric detection of ACE and ACE2 enzymatic activity.
  5. 05LabIn vitro (cells)Mechanism

    In human lung epithelial cells, thymosin-α1 was reported to inhibit the enzymatic activity of ACE, although the stated P value was above 0.05.

    In plain wordsIn cells, thymosin-α1 was reported to reduce ACE enzyme activity, but the reported P value did not show a clear effect.

    Peptide
    Thymosin alpha-1
    Outcome
    DecreaseACE enzymatic activity
    Study

    humann: not reported in source

    Human lung epithelial cells
    Outcome group
    Receptor activity and mechanism · Respiratory
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    but significantly inhibited the enzymatic activity of ACE (p > 0.05).
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    KEGG pathway enrichment of thymosin-α1 treating COVID-19 was analyzed by Database of Functional Annotation Bioinformatics Microarray Analysis, then core targets were validated by ligand binding kinetics assay and fluorometric detection of ACE and ACE2 enzymatic activity.

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, 08:19 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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