Thymosin β4 Regulates the Differentiation of Thymocytes by Controlling the Cytoskeletal Rearrangement and Mitochondrial Transfer of Thymus Epithelial Cells.

Ying Y, Tao N, Zhang F, Wen X, Zhou M, Gao J

International journal of molecular sciences16 Jan 2024Cited by 8 (Europe PMC)

PMID38256161PMCIDPMC10816181DOI10.3390/ijms25021088PepBankPUB-38256161

Summary

The thymus is one of the most crucial immunological organs, undergoing visible age-related shrinkage. Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) play a vital role in maintaining the normal function of the thymus, and their degeneration is the primary cause of age-induced thymic devolution. Thymosin β4 (Tβ4) serves as a significant important G-actin sequestering peptide. The objective of this study was to explore whether Tβ4 influences thymocyte differentiation by regulating the cytoskeletal rearrangement and mitochondrial transfer of TECs. A combination of H&E staining, immunofluorescence, transmission electron microscopy, RT-qPCR, flow cytometry, cytoskeletal immunolabeling, and mitochondrial immunolabeling were employed to observe the effects of Tβ4 on TECs' skeleton rearrangement, mitochondrial transfer, and thymocyte differentiation. The study revealed that the Tβ4 primarily regulates the formation of microfilaments and the mitochondrial transfer of TECs, along with the formation and maturation of double-negative cells (CD4^-CD8^-) and CD4 single-positive cells (CD3⁺TCRβ⁺CD4⁺CD8^-) thymocytes. This study suggests that Tβ4 plays a crucial role in thymocyte differentiation by influencing the cytoskeletal rearrangement and mitochondrial transfer of TECs. These effects may be associated with Tβ4's impact on the aggregation of F-actin. This finding opens up new avenues for research in the field of immune aging.

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

Results from this study3

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

01LabOther designMechanism
Tβ4 regulated the formation of microfilaments in thymic epithelial cells.
In plain wordsIn thymus cells, Tβ4 regulated how the cell skeleton filaments formed.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
Direction not reportedMicrofilament formation in TECs
Study
n: not reported in source
Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) and thymocytes
Outcome group
Immune response · Immune and inflammation
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
the Tβ4 primarily regulates the formation of microfilaments and the mitochondrial transfer of TECs, along with the formation and maturation of double-negative cells (CD4^-CD8^-) and CD4 single-positive cells (CD3⁺TCRβ⁺CD4⁺CD8^-) thymocytes.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
A combination of H&E staining, immunofluorescence, transmission electron microscopy, RT-qPCR, flow cytometry, cytoskeletal immunolabeling, and mitochondrial immunolabeling were employed to observe the effects of Tβ4 on TECs' skeleton rearrangement, mitochondrial transfer, and thymocyte differentiation.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3825616101
02LabOther designMechanism
Tβ4 regulated the mitochondrial transfer of thymic epithelial cells.
In plain wordsIn thymus cells, Tβ4 regulated the transfer of mitochondria.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
Direction not reportedMitochondrial transfer of TECs
Study
n: not reported in source
Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) and thymocytes
Outcome group
Mitochondrial function · Immune and inflammation
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
the mitochondrial transfer of TECs, along with the formation and maturation of double-negative cells (CD4^-CD8^-) and CD4 single-positive cells (CD3⁺TCRβ⁺CD4⁺CD8^-) thymocytes.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
A combination of H&E staining, immunofluorescence, transmission electron microscopy, RT-qPCR, flow cytometry, cytoskeletal immunolabeling, and mitochondrial immunolabeling were employed to observe the effects of Tβ4 on TECs' skeleton rearrangement, mitochondrial transfer, and thymocyte differentiation.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3825616102
03LabOther designMechanism
Tβ4 regulated the formation and maturation of double-negative and CD4 single-positive thymocytes.
In plain wordsIn thymus cells, Tβ4 regulated how certain immature immune cells formed and matured.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
Direction not reportedFormation and maturation of double-negative and CD4 single-positive thymocytes
Study
n: not reported in source
Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) and thymocytes
Outcome group
Immune response · Immune and inflammation
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
along with the formation and maturation of double-negative cells (CD4^-CD8^-) and CD4 single-positive cells (CD3⁺TCRβ⁺CD4⁺CD8^-) thymocytes.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
A combination of H&E staining, immunofluorescence, transmission electron microscopy, RT-qPCR, flow cytometry, cytoskeletal immunolabeling, and mitochondrial immunolabeling were employed to observe the effects of Tβ4 on TECs' skeleton rearrangement, mitochondrial transfer, and thymocyte differentiation.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3825616103

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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