Skip to content

Study · Not a test of the peptide alone · 2026

6 results

Thymulin restrains age-associated myeloid inflammation and enhances cancer immunotherapy.

Kanemaru H, Luong S, Yamamoto Y, Mizukami Y, Ito F

Nature communications21 Jul 2026Cited by 2 (Europe PMC)

PMID42481458 (opens in a new tab)PMCIDPMC13389034 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1038/s41467-026-75383-0 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-42481458
Download PDFPubMedAsk about this study
Jump to 6 results

Summary

Chronic inflammation increases with age and contributes to cancer progression and therapeutic resistance, yet the mechanisms underlying this process remain incompletely understood. Here, we identify an increased frequency of pro-inflammatory myeloid cells in aged mice and humans, characterized by elevated production of IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. These cells are enriched in the breast tumor microenvironment and are associated with accelerated tumor progression. Using heterochronic parabiosis and bone marrow chimeras, we show that age-associated myeloid cell inflammatory activation is suppressed by non-bone marrow-derived circulating factors present in young hosts. Integrative analyses identify thymulin, a thymus-derived peptide that declines with age, as a mediator that suppresses pro-inflammatory cytokine production by inhibiting NF-κB signaling. Furthermore, thymulin enhances antitumor T-cell immunity, improves tumor control and survival, and sensitizes tumors to anti-PD-L1 therapy in an age-dependent manner. Together, these findings uncover a thymus-myeloid cell regulatory axis linking aging, inflammation, and cancer immunity, and suggest thymulin as a potential strategy to improve cancer immunotherapy in older individuals.
CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study6

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

Studies that did not test the peptide alone6

In this study, Thymulin (serum thymic factor) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. These results are not evidence about taking Thymulin (serum thymic factor).

  1. 01AnimalNot a test of Thymulin (serum thymic factor) aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism

    In the study of age-associated inflammation, thymulin suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokine production.

    In plain wordsIn the study of age-associated inflammation, thymulin reduced production of inflammatory cytokines.

    Peptide
    Thymulin (serum thymic factor)
    Outcome
    DecreasePro-inflammatory cytokine production
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    Age-associated inflammation and breast tumors
    Outcome group
    Inflammation markers · Immune and inflammation

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Integrative analyses identify thymulin, a thymus-derived peptide that declines with age, as a mediator that suppresses pro-inflammatory cytokine production by inhibiting NF-κB signaling.

    In this study, Thymulin (serum thymic factor) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Thymulin (serum thymic factor).

  2. 02AnimalNot a test of Thymulin (serum thymic factor) aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism

    In the study of age-associated inflammation, thymulin inhibited NF-κB signaling.

    In plain wordsIn the study of age-associated inflammation, thymulin inhibited NF-κB signaling.

    Peptide
    Thymulin (serum thymic factor)
    Outcome
    DecreaseNF-κB signaling
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    Age-associated inflammation and breast tumors
    Outcome group
    Receptor activity and mechanism · Immune and inflammation

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Integrative analyses identify thymulin, a thymus-derived peptide that declines with age, as a mediator that suppresses pro-inflammatory cytokine production by inhibiting NF-κB signaling.

    In this study, Thymulin (serum thymic factor) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Thymulin (serum thymic factor).

  3. 03AnimalNot a test of Thymulin (serum thymic factor) aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome

    In the tumor study, thymulin enhanced antitumor T-cell immunity in an age-dependent manner.

    In plain wordsIn mice, thymulin enhanced immune T-cell activity against tumors in an age-dependent manner.

    Peptide
    Thymulin (serum thymic factor)
    Outcome
    IncreaseAntitumor T-cell immunity
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    Age-associated inflammation and breast tumors
    Outcome group
    Immune response · Cancer

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Furthermore, thymulin enhances antitumor T-cell immunity, improves tumor control and survival, and sensitizes tumors to anti-PD-L1 therapy in an age-dependent manner.

    In this study, Thymulin (serum thymic factor) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Thymulin (serum thymic factor).

  4. 04AnimalNot a test of Thymulin (serum thymic factor) aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome

    In the tumor study, thymulin improved tumor control in an age-dependent manner.

    In plain wordsIn mice, thymulin improved tumor control in an age-dependent manner.

    Peptide
    Thymulin (serum thymic factor)
    Outcome
    IncreaseTumor control
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    Age-associated inflammation and breast tumors
    Outcome group
    Tumor growth · Cancer

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Furthermore, thymulin enhances antitumor T-cell immunity, improves tumor control and survival, and sensitizes tumors to anti-PD-L1 therapy in an age-dependent manner.

    In this study, Thymulin (serum thymic factor) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Thymulin (serum thymic factor).

  5. 05AnimalNot a test of Thymulin (serum thymic factor) aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome

    In the tumor study, thymulin improved survival in an age-dependent manner.

    In plain wordsIn mice, thymulin improved survival in an age-dependent manner.

    Peptide
    Thymulin (serum thymic factor)
    Outcome
    IncreaseSurvival
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    Age-associated inflammation and breast tumors
    Outcome group
    Mortality · Cancer

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Furthermore, thymulin enhances antitumor T-cell immunity, improves tumor control and survival, and sensitizes tumors to anti-PD-L1 therapy in an age-dependent manner.

    In this study, Thymulin (serum thymic factor) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Thymulin (serum thymic factor).

  6. 06AnimalNot a test of Thymulin (serum thymic factor) aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome

    In the tumor study, thymulin sensitized tumors to anti-PD-L1 therapy in an age-dependent manner.

    In plain wordsIn mice, thymulin increased tumor sensitivity to anti-PD-L1 treatment in an age-dependent manner.

    Peptide
    Thymulin (serum thymic factor)
    Outcome
    IncreaseSensitivity to anti-PD-L1 therapy
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    Age-associated inflammation and breast tumors
    Outcome group
    Tumor growth · Cancer

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Furthermore, thymulin enhances antitumor T-cell immunity, improves tumor control and survival, and sensitizes tumors to anti-PD-L1 therapy in an age-dependent manner.

    In this study, Thymulin (serum thymic factor) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Thymulin (serum thymic factor).

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

    21 Oct 2026, 15:58 UTC

    Study results updated

  2. Version 2

    21 Oct 2026, 13:55 UTC

    Study data updated · source update from Europe PMC

  3. Version 1

    21 Oct 2026, 12:50 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

PepBank is a research reference. Talk to a doctor before you use any peptide.