Recombinant Human Thymosin β4 (rhTβ4) Modulates the Anti-Inflammatory Responses to Alleviate Benzalkonium Chloride (BAC)-Induced Dry Eye Disease.

Zhai Y, Zheng X, Mao Y, Li K, Liu Y, Gao Y, Zhao M, Yang R, Yu R, Chen W

International journal of molecular sciences13 May 2022Cited by 13 (Europe PMC)

PMID35628276PMCIDPMC9141377DOI10.3390/ijms23105458PepBankPUB-35628276

Summary

Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial ocular disorder that interferes with daily living and reduces quality of life. However, there is no most ideal therapeutic treatment to address all the deleterious defects of DED. The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of recombinant human thymosin β4 (rhTβ4) to promote healing in a benzalkonium chloride (BAC)-induced mice DED model and the anti-inflammatory effects involved in that process. Eye drops consisting of 0.05% and 0.1% rhTβ4 were used for treatment of DED. Tear volume and corneal staining scores were measured after 7 days. Periodic acid-Schiff staining for gobleT cells in conjunctiva, immunohistochemical staining for CD4⁺ T cells, TUNEL assay for apoptotic positive cells in cornea and conjunctiva, qRT-PCR and ELISA assays for multiple cytokines were performed. All clinical parameters showed improvement in both the 0.05% and 0.1% rhTβ4 groups. Specifically, topical application of rhTβ4 significantly increased conjunctival gobleT cells and reduced apoptotic cells in conjunctiva. Mechanically, the rhTβ4 groups showed significantly reduced inflammatory cytokine levels and CD4⁺ T cells in conjunctiva by blocking NF-κB (nuclear factor kappa B) activation, suggesting that 0.05-0.1% rhTβ4 eye drops may be used as a potential therapeutic treatment for DED.

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

Results from this study6

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

01AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In mice with benzalkonium chloride-induced dry eye, 0.05% and 0.1% rhTβ4 eye drops improved all clinical parameters, including tear volume and corneal staining score.
In plain wordsIn mice with dry eye, rhTβ4 eye drops improved tear volume and corneal staining scores.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
Direction not reportedClinical parameters of dry eye (tear volume, corneal staining score)
Study
mousen: not reported in source
BAC-induced dry eye disease
Outcome group
Ocular surface · Eye
Studied dose
0.05% and 0.1% · topical eye dropsAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
All clinical parameters showed improvement in both the 0.05% and 0.1% rhTβ4 groups.
3 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Tear volume and corneal staining scores were measured after 7 days.
Summary · context
The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of recombinant human thymosin β4 (rhTβ4) to promote healing in a benzalkonium chloride (BAC)-induced mice DED model and the anti-inflammatory effects involved in that process.
Summary · context
Eye drops consisting of 0.05% and 0.1% rhTβ4 were used for treatment of DED.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3562827601
02AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In mice with benzalkonium chloride-induced dry eye, topical rhTβ4 significantly increased conjunctival goblet cells.
In plain wordsIn mice with dry eye, rhTβ4 eye drops increased the number of goblet cells in the conjunctiva.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
IncreaseConjunctival goblet cells
Study
mousen: not reported in source
BAC-induced dry eye disease
Outcome group
Ocular surface · Eye
Studied dose
0.05% and 0.1% · topical eye dropsAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
Specifically, topical application of rhTβ4 significantly increased conjunctival gobleT cells and reduced apoptotic cells in conjunctiva.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of recombinant human thymosin β4 (rhTβ4) to promote healing in a benzalkonium chloride (BAC)-induced mice DED model and the anti-inflammatory effects involved in that process.
Summary · context
Eye drops consisting of 0.05% and 0.1% rhTβ4 were used for treatment of DED.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3562827602
03AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In mice with benzalkonium chloride-induced dry eye, topical rhTβ4 significantly reduced apoptotic cells in the conjunctiva.
In plain wordsIn mice with dry eye, rhTβ4 eye drops reduced the number of dying cells in the conjunctiva.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
DecreaseApoptotic cells in conjunctiva
Study
mousen: not reported in source
BAC-induced dry eye disease
Outcome group
Ocular surface · Eye
Studied dose
0.05% and 0.1% · topical eye dropsAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
Specifically, topical application of rhTβ4 significantly increased conjunctival gobleT cells and reduced apoptotic cells in conjunctiva.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of recombinant human thymosin β4 (rhTβ4) to promote healing in a benzalkonium chloride (BAC)-induced mice DED model and the anti-inflammatory effects involved in that process.
Summary · context
Eye drops consisting of 0.05% and 0.1% rhTβ4 were used for treatment of DED.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3562827603
04AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In mice with benzalkonium chloride-induced dry eye, rhTβ4 groups showed significantly reduced inflammatory cytokine levels in the conjunctiva.
In plain wordsIn mice with dry eye, rhTβ4 eye drops lowered inflammatory cytokine levels in the conjunctiva.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
DecreaseInflammatory cytokine levels in conjunctiva
Study
mousen: not reported in source
BAC-induced dry eye disease
Outcome group
Inflammation markers · Immune and inflammation
Studied dose
0.05% and 0.1% · topical eye dropsAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
the rhTβ4 groups showed significantly reduced inflammatory cytokine levels and CD4⁺ T cells in conjunctiva
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of recombinant human thymosin β4 (rhTβ4) to promote healing in a benzalkonium chloride (BAC)-induced mice DED model and the anti-inflammatory effects involved in that process.
Summary · context
Eye drops consisting of 0.05% and 0.1% rhTβ4 were used for treatment of DED.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3562827604
05AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In mice with benzalkonium chloride-induced dry eye, rhTβ4 groups showed significantly reduced CD4+ T cells in the conjunctiva.
In plain wordsIn mice with dry eye, rhTβ4 eye drops reduced the number of CD4 T immune cells in the conjunctiva.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
DecreaseCD4+ T cells in conjunctiva
Study
mousen: not reported in source
BAC-induced dry eye disease
Outcome group
Immune response · Immune and inflammation
Studied dose
0.05% and 0.1% · topical eye dropsAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
the rhTβ4 groups showed significantly reduced inflammatory cytokine levels and CD4⁺ T cells in conjunctiva
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of recombinant human thymosin β4 (rhTβ4) to promote healing in a benzalkonium chloride (BAC)-induced mice DED model and the anti-inflammatory effects involved in that process.
Summary · context
Eye drops consisting of 0.05% and 0.1% rhTβ4 were used for treatment of DED.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3562827605
06AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In mice with benzalkonium chloride-induced dry eye, the authors report that rhTβ4 reduced inflammation by blocking NF-κB activation.
In plain wordsIn mice with dry eye, rhTβ4 eye drops were linked to less inflammation through blocking of NF-κB activation.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
DecreaseNF-κB activation in conjunctiva
Study
mousen: not reported in source
BAC-induced dry eye disease
Outcome group
Inflammation markers · Immune and inflammation
Studied dose
0.05% and 0.1% · topical eye dropsAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
the rhTβ4 groups showed significantly reduced inflammatory cytokine levels and CD4⁺ T cells in conjunctiva by blocking NF-κB (nuclear factor kappa B) activation
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of recombinant human thymosin β4 (rhTβ4) to promote healing in a benzalkonium chloride (BAC)-induced mice DED model and the anti-inflammatory effects involved in that process.
Summary · context
Eye drops consisting of 0.05% and 0.1% rhTβ4 were used for treatment of DED.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3562827606

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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