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Study · In vitro (cells) · 2023

9 results

The use of alpha 1 thymosin as an immunomodulator of the response against SARS-Cov2.

Espinar-Buitrago MS, Tarancon-Diez L, Vazquez-Alejo E, Magro-Lopez E, Genebat M, Romero-Candau F, Leal M, Muñoz-Fernandez MA

Immunity & ageing : I & A5 Jul 2023Cited by 7 (Europe PMC)

PMID37408063 (opens in a new tab)PMCIDPMC10320944 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1186/s12979-023-00351-x (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-37408063
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Summary

BackgroundSince the beginning of SARS-CoV2 pandemic, the mortality rate among elderly patients (60-90 years) has been around 50%, so age has been a determining factor of a worse COVID-19 prognosis. Associated with age, the thymic function involution and depletion plays an important role, that could be related to a dysregulated and ineffective innate and adaptive immune response against SARS-CoV2. Our study aims to further in vitro effect of human Thymosin-alpha-1 (α1Thy) treatment on the immune system in population groups with different thymic function levels in the scenario of SARS-CoV2 infection.ResultsActivation markers such as CD40, CD80 and TIM-3 were upregulated in α1Thy presence, especially in plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) and, with increased TNFα production was observed compared to untreated condition. Co-cultures of CD4 + and CD8 + T cells with DCs treated with α1Thy in response to SARS-CoV2 peptides showed a decrease in the cytokine production compared to the condition without α1Thy pre-treated. A decrease in CD40L activation co-receptor expression in CD8 + LTs was also observed, as well as an increase in PD1 in CD4 + TLs expression in both age groups. In fact, there are no age-related differences in the immunomodulatory effect of the hormone, and it seems that effector memory and terminally differentiated memory T lymphocyte subsets were the most actively influenced by the immunomodulatory α1Thy effect. Finally, the polyfunctionality measured in SARS-CoV2 Specific-T cells response was maintained in α1Thy presence in total and memory subpopulations CD4 + and CD8 + T-cells, despite decreased proinflammatory cytokines production.ConclusionThe hormone α1Thy could reduce, through the modulation of DCs, the amount of proinflammatory cytokines produced by T cells. Moreover, α1Thy improve lymphocyte functionality and could become a beneficial therapeutic alternative as an adjuvant in SARS-CoV2 treatment either in the acute phase after infection or reinfection. In addition, the effect on the T immune response means that α1Thy can be incorporated into the vaccination regimen, especially in the most immunologically vulnerable individuals such as the elderly.SubjectsThymosin alpha 1, Dendritic cells, SARS-CoV2-specific T cells response, Immunomodulation.
CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study9

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

  1. 01LabIn vitro (cells)Activity measurement

    In vitro, human thymosin alpha‑1 upregulated CD40 on dendritic cells, especially plasmacytoid dendritic cells.

    In plain wordsIn cells in a dish, thymosin alpha‑1 raised CD40, an activation marker, on dendritic cells.

    Peptide
    Thymosin alpha-1
    Outcome
    IncreaseCD40 expression on dendritic cells
    Study

    humann: not reported in source

    Dendritic cells and CD4+/CD8+ T-cell co-cultures with SARS-CoV2 peptides
    Comparator
    Untreated condition
    Outcome group
    Immune response · Immune and inflammation
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Activation markers such as CD40, CD80 and TIM-3 were upregulated in α1Thy presence, especially in plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) and, with increased TNFα production was observed compared to untreated condition.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Our study aims to further in vitro effect of human Thymosin-alpha-1 (α1Thy) treatment on the immune system in population groups with different thymic function levels in the scenario of SARS-CoV2 infection.
  2. 02LabIn vitro (cells)Activity measurement

    In vitro, human thymosin alpha‑1 upregulated CD80 on dendritic cells, especially plasmacytoid dendritic cells.

    In plain wordsIn cells in a dish, thymosin alpha‑1 raised CD80, an activation marker, on dendritic cells.

    Peptide
    Thymosin alpha-1
    Outcome
    IncreaseCD80 expression on dendritic cells
    Study

    humann: not reported in source

    Dendritic cells and CD4+/CD8+ T-cell co-cultures with SARS-CoV2 peptides
    Comparator
    Untreated condition
    Outcome group
    Immune response · Immune and inflammation
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Activation markers such as CD40, CD80 and TIM-3 were upregulated in α1Thy presence, especially in plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) and, with increased TNFα production was observed compared to untreated condition.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Our study aims to further in vitro effect of human Thymosin-alpha-1 (α1Thy) treatment on the immune system in population groups with different thymic function levels in the scenario of SARS-CoV2 infection.
  3. 03LabIn vitro (cells)Activity measurement

    In vitro, human thymosin alpha‑1 upregulated TIM-3 on dendritic cells, especially plasmacytoid dendritic cells.

    In plain wordsIn cells in a dish, thymosin alpha‑1 raised TIM-3 on dendritic cells.

    Peptide
    Thymosin alpha-1
    Outcome
    IncreaseTIM-3 expression on dendritic cells
    Study

    humann: not reported in source

    Dendritic cells and CD4+/CD8+ T-cell co-cultures with SARS-CoV2 peptides
    Comparator
    Untreated condition
    Outcome group
    Immune response · Immune and inflammation
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Activation markers such as CD40, CD80 and TIM-3 were upregulated in α1Thy presence, especially in plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) and, with increased TNFα production was observed compared to untreated condition.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Our study aims to further in vitro effect of human Thymosin-alpha-1 (α1Thy) treatment on the immune system in population groups with different thymic function levels in the scenario of SARS-CoV2 infection.
  4. 04LabIn vitro (cells)Activity measurement

    In vitro, human thymosin alpha‑1 increased TNFα production compared with the untreated condition.

    In plain wordsIn cells in a dish, thymosin alpha‑1 raised TNFα production compared with untreated cells.

    Peptide
    Thymosin alpha-1
    Outcome
    IncreaseTNFα production by dendritic cells
    Study

    humann: not reported in source

    Dendritic cells and CD4+/CD8+ T-cell co-cultures with SARS-CoV2 peptides
    Comparator
    Untreated condition
    Outcome group
    Immune response · Immune and inflammation
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Activation markers such as CD40, CD80 and TIM-3 were upregulated in α1Thy presence, especially in plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) and, with increased TNFα production was observed compared to untreated condition.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Our study aims to further in vitro effect of human Thymosin-alpha-1 (α1Thy) treatment on the immune system in population groups with different thymic function levels in the scenario of SARS-CoV2 infection.
  5. 05LabIn vitro (cells)Activity measurement

    In co-cultures of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells with dendritic cells pre-treated with thymosin alpha‑1 and exposed to SARS-CoV2 peptides, cytokine production decreased.

    In plain wordsIn cells in a dish, T cells grouped with thymosin alpha‑1-treated dendritic cells made less cytokine than without that treatment.

    Peptide
    Thymosin alpha-1
    Outcome
    DecreaseCytokine production by T cells co-cultured with treated dendritic cells
    Study

    humann: not reported in source

    Dendritic cells and CD4+/CD8+ T-cell co-cultures with SARS-CoV2 peptides
    Comparator
    Condition without α1Thy pre-treatment
    Outcome group
    Immune response · Immune and inflammation
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Co-cultures of CD4 + and CD8 + T cells with DCs treated with α1Thy in response to SARS-CoV2 peptides showed a decrease in the cytokine production compared to the condition without α1Thy pre-treated.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Our study aims to further in vitro effect of human Thymosin-alpha-1 (α1Thy) treatment on the immune system in population groups with different thymic function levels in the scenario of SARS-CoV2 infection.
  6. 06LabIn vitro (cells)Activity measurement

    In co-cultures with thymosin alpha‑1-pretreated dendritic cells, CD40L co-receptor expression on CD8+ T cells decreased.

    In plain wordsIn cells in a dish, thymosin alpha‑1 treatment of dendritic cells lowered the CD40L marker on CD8+ T cells.

    Peptide
    Thymosin alpha-1
    Outcome
    DecreaseCD40L expression on CD8+ T cells
    Study

    humann: not reported in source

    Dendritic cells and CD4+/CD8+ T-cell co-cultures with SARS-CoV2 peptides
    Comparator
    Untreated condition
    Outcome group
    Immune response · Immune and inflammation
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    A decrease in CD40L activation co-receptor expression in CD8 + LTs was also observed, as well as an increase in PD1 in CD4 + TLs expression in both age groups.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Our study aims to further in vitro effect of human Thymosin-alpha-1 (α1Thy) treatment on the immune system in population groups with different thymic function levels in the scenario of SARS-CoV2 infection.
  7. 07LabIn vitro (cells)Activity measurement

    In co-cultures with thymosin alpha‑1-pretreated dendritic cells, PD1 expression on CD4+ T cells increased in both age groups.

    In plain wordsIn cells in a dish, thymosin alpha‑1 treatment of dendritic cells raised the PD1 marker on CD4+ T cells in both age groups.

    Peptide
    Thymosin alpha-1
    Outcome
    IncreasePD1 expression on CD4+ T cells
    Study

    humann: not reported in source

    Dendritic cells and CD4+/CD8+ T-cell co-cultures with SARS-CoV2 peptides
    Comparator
    Untreated condition
    Outcome group
    Immune response · Immune and inflammation
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    A decrease in CD40L activation co-receptor expression in CD8 + LTs was also observed, as well as an increase in PD1 in CD4 + TLs expression in both age groups.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Our study aims to further in vitro effect of human Thymosin-alpha-1 (α1Thy) treatment on the immune system in population groups with different thymic function levels in the scenario of SARS-CoV2 infection.
  8. 08LabIn vitro (cells)Activity measurement

    In vitro, there were no age-related differences in the immunomodulatory effect of thymosin alpha‑1.

    In plain wordsIn cells in a dish, thymosin alpha‑1 had the same immune effects in cells from both age groups.

    Peptide
    Thymosin alpha-1
    Outcome
    No significant changeAge-related differences in immunomodulatory effect
    Study

    humann: not reported in source

    Dendritic cells and CD4+/CD8+ T-cell co-cultures with SARS-CoV2 peptides
    Comparator
    Age groups
    Outcome group
    Immune response · Immune and inflammation
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    there are no age-related differences in the immunomodulatory effect of the hormone, and it seems that effector memory and terminally differentiated memory T lymphocyte subsets were the most actively influenced by the immunomodulatory α1Thy effect.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Our study aims to further in vitro effect of human Thymosin-alpha-1 (α1Thy) treatment on the immune system in population groups with different thymic function levels in the scenario of SARS-CoV2 infection.
  9. 09LabIn vitro (cells)Activity measurement

    Polyfunctionality of SARS-CoV2-specific T cells was maintained in the presence of thymosin alpha‑1 in CD4+ and CD8+ subpopulations, despite decreased proinflammatory cytokine production.

    In plain wordsIn cells in a dish, T cells kept their range of functions with thymosin alpha‑1 present, even though they made fewer inflammatory signals.

    Peptide
    Thymosin alpha-1
    Outcome
    No significant changePolyfunctionality of SARS-CoV2-specific T cells
    Study

    humann: not reported in source

    Dendritic cells and CD4+/CD8+ T-cell co-cultures with SARS-CoV2 peptides
    Comparator
    Untreated condition
    Outcome group
    Immune response · Immune and inflammation
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Finally, the polyfunctionality measured in SARS-CoV2 Specific-T cells response was maintained in α1Thy presence in total and memory subpopulations CD4 + and CD8 + T-cells, despite decreased proinflammatory cytokines production.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Our study aims to further in vitro effect of human Thymosin-alpha-1 (α1Thy) treatment on the immune system in population groups with different thymic function levels in the scenario of SARS-CoV2 infection.

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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