Association of serum thymosin β4 with malnutrition-inflammation-atherosclerosis syndrome in peritoneal dialysis patients: a cross-sectional study.

Tian J, Zhang R, Zhu N, Gu L, Guo Y, Yuan W

Renal failure1 Dec 2023Cited by 3 (Europe PMC)

PMID37133832PMCIDPMC10158543DOI10.1080/0886022x.2023.2202761PepBankPUB-37133832

Summary

BackgroundMalnutrition-inflammation-atherosclerosis (MIA) syndrome may worsen the prognosis of peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Serum thymosin β4 (sTβ4) protects against inflammation, fibrosis and cardiac dysfunction.ObjectivesThe present study aimed to characterize the association between sTβ4 and MIA syndrome as well as to investigate the potential of regulating sTβ4 to improve the prognosis of PD patients.MethodsWe performed a cross-sectional, single-center pilot study involving 76 PD patients. Demographic characteristics, clinical characteristics, nutritional profiles, inflammatory mediators, atherosclerosis-related factors and sTβ4 levels were collected and subjected to association analysis for sTβ4 and MIA syndrome.ResultssTβ4 levels did not significantly vary with sex or primary disease in PD patients. Ages and PD features did not vary between patients with different levels of sTβ4. PD patients with higher levels of sTβ4 had significantly higher levels of nutritional indicators, including subjective global nutritional assessment (SGA) (p p < 0.001) but lower levels of inflammatory and atherosclerotic indicators, including serum C reaction protein (CRP) (p = 0.009), the right common carotid artery (RCCA) intimal thickness (p p = 0.02). Correlation analysis showed that sTβ4 was positively associated with SGA (p p p = 0.020), RCCA intimal thickness (p p = 0.033). In multiple adjusted models, the prevalence of MIA syndrome was significantly decreased in PD patients with increased levels of sTβ4 when patients without MIA syndrome were compared to those with all indicators of MIA syndrome (OR = 0.996, 95% CI 0.993-0.999, p = 0.003) or those with at least one indicator of MIA syndrome (OR = 0.997, 95% CI 0.995-0.998, p < 0.001).ConclusionsThe sTβ4 level decreases in PD patients with MIA syndrome. The prevalence of MIA syndrome decreases significantly as the level of sTβ4 increases in PD patients.

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

Results from this study9

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

Natural levels measured9

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.

01HumanEndogenous levelObservational studyOther
In peritoneal dialysis patients, higher levels of the body's own serum thymosin β4 were associated with higher SGA nutritional scores.
In plain wordsIn people on peritoneal dialysis, higher natural thymosin β4 levels were linked to higher nutritional assessment scores.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
IncreaseSubjective global nutritional assessment (SGA) by sTβ4 level
Study
n = 76
Outcome group
Body composition · Whole body
Source sentences
Summary
PD patients with higher levels of sTβ4 had significantly higher levels of nutritional indicators, including subjective global nutritional assessment (SGA) (p p < 0.001)
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Correlation analysis showed that sTβ4 was positively associated with SGA (p p p = 0.020), RCCA intimal thickness (p p = 0.033).
Summary · context
We performed a cross-sectional, single-center pilot study involving 76 PD patients.
This result measures the body's own Thymosin beta-4 (human). Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3713383201
02HumanEndogenous levelObservational studyOther
In peritoneal dialysis patients, higher levels of the body's own serum thymosin β4 were associated with higher serum albumin.
In plain wordsIn people on peritoneal dialysis, higher natural thymosin β4 levels were linked to higher albumin levels.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
IncreaseSerum albumin by sTβ4 level
Study
n = 76
Outcome group
Body composition · Whole body
Source sentences
Summary
PD patients with higher levels of sTβ4 had significantly higher levels of nutritional indicators, including subjective global nutritional assessment (SGA) (p p < 0.001)
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Correlation analysis showed that sTβ4 was positively associated with SGA (p p p = 0.020), RCCA intimal thickness (p p = 0.033).
Summary · context
We performed a cross-sectional, single-center pilot study involving 76 PD patients.
This result measures the body's own Thymosin beta-4 (human). Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3713383202
03HumanEndogenous levelObservational studyOther
In peritoneal dialysis patients, higher levels of the body's own serum thymosin β4 were associated with lower serum CRP.
In plain wordsIn people on peritoneal dialysis, higher natural thymosin β4 levels were linked to lower CRP, an inflammation marker.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
DecreaseSerum C reaction protein (CRP) by sTβ4 level
Study
n = 76
Outcome group
Inflammation markers · Immune and inflammation
Source sentences
Summary
but lower levels of inflammatory and atherosclerotic indicators, including serum C reaction protein (CRP) (p = 0.009), the right common carotid artery (RCCA) intimal thickness (p p = 0.02).
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Correlation analysis showed that sTβ4 was positively associated with SGA (p p p = 0.020), RCCA intimal thickness (p p = 0.033).
Summary · context
We performed a cross-sectional, single-center pilot study involving 76 PD patients.
This result measures the body's own Thymosin beta-4 (human). Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3713383203
04HumanEndogenous levelObservational studyOther
In peritoneal dialysis patients, higher levels of the body's own serum thymosin β4 were associated with lower right common carotid artery intimal thickness.
In plain wordsIn people on peritoneal dialysis, higher natural thymosin β4 levels were linked to thinner right carotid artery walls.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
DecreaseRight common carotid artery intimal thickness by sTβ4 level
Study
n = 76
Outcome group
Vascular function · Cardiovascular
Source sentences
Summary
but lower levels of inflammatory and atherosclerotic indicators, including serum C reaction protein (CRP) (p = 0.009), the right common carotid artery (RCCA) intimal thickness (p p = 0.02).
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Correlation analysis showed that sTβ4 was positively associated with SGA (p p p = 0.020), RCCA intimal thickness (p p = 0.033).
Summary · context
We performed a cross-sectional, single-center pilot study involving 76 PD patients.
This result measures the body's own Thymosin beta-4 (human). Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3713383204
05HumanEndogenous levelObservational studyOther
In peritoneal dialysis patients, higher levels of the body's own serum thymosin β4 were associated with lower left common carotid artery intimal thickness.
In plain wordsIn people on peritoneal dialysis, higher natural thymosin β4 levels were linked to thinner left carotid artery walls.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
DecreaseLeft common carotid artery intimal thickness by sTβ4 level
Study
n = 76
Outcome group
Vascular function · Cardiovascular
Source sentences
Summary
but lower levels of inflammatory and atherosclerotic indicators, including serum C reaction protein (CRP) (p = 0.009), the right common carotid artery (RCCA) intimal thickness (p p = 0.02).
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Correlation analysis showed that sTβ4 was positively associated with SGA (p p p = 0.020), RCCA intimal thickness (p p = 0.033).
Summary · context
We performed a cross-sectional, single-center pilot study involving 76 PD patients.
This result measures the body's own Thymosin beta-4 (human). Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3713383205
06HumanEndogenous levelObservational studyOther
In peritoneal dialysis patients, higher levels of the body's own serum thymosin β4 were associated with lower odds of MIA syndrome with all indicators, after adjustment.
In plain wordsIn people on peritoneal dialysis, higher natural thymosin β4 levels were linked to lower odds of having all signs of MIA syndrome.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
DecreaseMIA syndrome prevalence, all indicators versus none
Study
n = 76
Comparator
Patients without MIA syndrome
Outcome group
Inflammation markers · Whole body
Measurements
OR
0.996 ratio
all indicators of MIA syndrome
Source sentences
Summary
In multiple adjusted models, the prevalence of MIA syndrome was significantly decreased in PD patients with increased levels of sTβ4 when patients without MIA syndrome were compared to those with all indicators of MIA syndrome (OR = 0.996, 95% CI 0.993-0.999, p = 0.003)
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We performed a cross-sectional, single-center pilot study involving 76 PD patients.
This result measures the body's own Thymosin beta-4 (human). Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3713383206
07HumanEndogenous levelObservational studyOther
In peritoneal dialysis patients, higher levels of the body's own serum thymosin β4 were associated with lower odds of MIA syndrome with at least one indicator, after adjustment.
In plain wordsIn people on peritoneal dialysis, higher natural thymosin β4 levels were linked to lower odds of having at least one sign of MIA syndrome.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
DecreaseMIA syndrome prevalence, at least one indicator versus none
Study
n = 76
Comparator
Patients without MIA syndrome
Outcome group
Inflammation markers · Whole body
Measurements
OR
0.997 ratio
at least one indicator of MIA syndrome
Source sentences
Summary
or those with at least one indicator of MIA syndrome (OR = 0.997, 95% CI 0.995-0.998, p < 0.001).
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We performed a cross-sectional, single-center pilot study involving 76 PD patients.
This result measures the body's own Thymosin beta-4 (human). Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3713383207
08HumanEndogenous levelObservational studyOther
In peritoneal dialysis patients, the body's own serum thymosin β4 level did not differ significantly by sex or primary disease.
In plain wordsIn people on peritoneal dialysis, natural thymosin β4 levels did not differ by sex or by the main kidney disease.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
No significant changesTβ4 by sex or primary disease
Study
n = 76
Outcome group
Body composition · Whole body
Source sentences
Summary
sTβ4 levels did not significantly vary with sex or primary disease in PD patients.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We performed a cross-sectional, single-center pilot study involving 76 PD patients.
This result measures the body's own Thymosin beta-4 (human). Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3713383208
09HumanEndogenous levelObservational studyOther
In peritoneal dialysis patients, age and dialysis features did not differ between groups with different levels of the body's own serum thymosin β4.
In plain wordsIn people on peritoneal dialysis, age and dialysis features did not differ between groups with different natural thymosin β4 levels.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
No significant changeAge and PD features by sTβ4 level
Study
n = 76
Outcome group
Body composition · Whole body
Source sentences
Summary
Ages and PD features did not vary between patients with different levels of sTβ4.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We performed a cross-sectional, single-center pilot study involving 76 PD patients.
This result measures the body's own Thymosin beta-4 (human). Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3713383209

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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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