Hormones under the collective name of "thymosin" are substances that control our immunity. The thymus is responsible for their production - an organ extremely active in children during the formation of the immune system. Various types of thymosin have been studied for a variety of medical applications and are also used as drugs. What is the impact of their level in the body on our he alth? What does excess mean, and what does a shortage of thymosin mean?

Contents:

  1. α1-type thymosin
  2. β4 thymosin
  3. Thymosin as thymus hormones
  4. Thymosin - application in medicine
  5. Thymosin deficiency
  6. Thymosin - excess

Thymosinsare a group of proteins found in many animal tissues. Their main task is to regulate the activity of the immune system. Typically, this term is used to refer to polypeptide hormones secreted by the thymus gland. This is due to the fact that these substances were first isolated from this particular organ.

Thymosins have a variety of biological activity. The deficiency of substances from this group leads to the weakening of the immune mechanisms in our bodies.

Some of the thymosins have potential medical applications. In the light of the current research, the α1 and β4 types of these substances show a particularly high potential. Both types of hormones stimulate the development of T lymphocytes and enhance their responses to antigens.

Thymosines, as drugs, are classified into the group of biological response modifiers. These hormones have a potential anti-cancer effect by stimulating lymphopoiesis. Interestingly, thymosins can also be used as biomarkers in the diagnosis of certain types of cancer.

α1-type thymosin

Thymosin of the α1 type is responsible for stimulating the development of precursor T lymphocytes, including the organ to their mature form. This substance is a 28-amino acid peptide produced by thymic epithelial cells located in the outer cortex and medulla.

β4 thymosin

The most abundant thymosin in our bodies is the β4 type of this hormone. It is produced in many types of cells. Thymosin β4 is the major molecule that activates G-actin in mammalian cells. It also plays an important role in the organization of the cytoskeleton. Through these activities, it stimulates cell division.

Thymosin β4 shows a lotactivity in the human body. She is responsible for:

  • promoting immune cell migration
  • formation of blood vessels
  • increasing cell survival
  • stem cell differentiation
  • modulation of cytokines, chemokines and some proteases
  • gene expression control

Thymosin β4 has already found clinical applications. It can be used in the treatment of patients after myocardial infarction. However, it is necessary to combine it with other methods of therapy.

Thymosin as thymus hormones

The thymus is a specialized primary lymphoid organ of the immune system. T cells mature there. They are of key importance for the adaptation of the immune system. It is necessary for the body to adapt to microbial attacks as well as other external factors.

The thymus has the greatest size and activity in the neonatal and childhood period. In the pubertal stage, the thymus begins to shrink and change. In the process of these changes, its cells are gradually replaced with adipose tissue. This organ almost completely disappears. At the same time, however, the residual T-lymphoposis that occurs in it lasts throughout adult life.

Thymosins are hormones secreted by the thymus gland. They are also substances that control the processes taking place in its area.

Thymosin - application in medicine

Thymosin α1 was approved in 2009 as a drug in the treatment of hepatitis B and hepatitis C. It is also used in medicine to strengthen the immune response in the treatment of certain diseases. This substance is mainly used in underdeveloped and developing countries.

Clinical trials suggest that α1 thymosin may be useful in the treatment of diseases such as:

  • cystic fibrosis
  • septic shock
  • acute respiratory distress syndrome
  • peritonitis
  • acute cytomegalovirus infection
  • tuberculosis
  • acute respiratory syndrome
  • lung infections in critically ill patients
  • chronic hepatitis B

Thymosin α1 is also being investigated for its possible use in the treatment of cancer. This substance can potentially be used as a supplement to other methods, e.g. chemotherapy.

Thymosin deficiency

Low levels of thymosin in the body are manifested by a decrease in immunity, resulting in frequent infections. This may be due to the atrophy of the thymus gland too early or its abnormal development. There are genetic diseases, e.g.DiGeorge's syndrome, in the course of which thymus atrophy occurs in the fetal stage. The consequence is the abnormal development of the immune system and a deficiency of thymosin.

Decreased thymosin levels may also be associated with damage to the thymus as a result of:

  • injury
  • chemotherapy
  • tumor of this organ - thymoma

Thymosin - excess

High levels of thymosin occur in some types of cancer. It can also be associated with pathological thymic hyperplasia. The excess of this hormone promotes the incidence of myasthenia gravis, which is a disease manifested by pathological muscle weakness.

About the authorSara Janowska, MA in pharmacyPhD student of interdisciplinary doctoral studies in the field of pharmaceutical and biomedical sciences at the Medical University of Lublin and the Institute of Biotechnology in Białystok. A graduate of pharmaceutical studies at the Medical University of Lublin with a specialization in Plant Medicine. She obtained a master's degree defending a thesis in the field of pharmaceutical botany on the antioxidant properties of extracts obtained from twenty species of mosses. Currently, in his research work, he deals with the synthesis of new anti-cancer substances and the study of their properties on cancer cell lines. For two years she worked as a master of pharmacy in an open pharmacy.

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