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| Aliases | PTMA, prothymosin, alpha, TMSA, prothymosin alpha | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| External IDs | OMIM:188390;MGI:97803;HomoloGene:136511;GeneCards:PTMA;OMA:PTMA - orthologs | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Formula | C129H215N33O55 |
| Molar mass | 3108.315 g·mol−1 |
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Thymosin α1 is apeptide fragment derived fromprothymosin alpha, aprotein that in humans is encoded by thePTMAgene.[5]
It was the first of the peptides from Thymosin Fraction 5 to be completely sequenced and synthesized. Unlike β thymosins, to which it is genetically and chemically unrelated, thymosin α1 is produced as a 28-amino acid fragment having the sequenceAc-SDAAVDTSSEITTKDLKEKKEVEEEAEN, which is made from cleavage of a longer, 113-amino acid precursor, prothymosin α.[6]
Thymosin α1 is anagonist fortoll-like receptor 2 andtoll-like receptor 9 on bothmyeloid anddendriticantigen-presenting cells, thereby stimulating theadaptive immune response.[7]
Thymosin α1 is believed to be a major component of Thymosin Fraction 5 responsible for the activity of that preparation in restoring immune function in animals lacking thymus glands. It has been found to enhance cell-mediated immunity in humans as well as experimental animals.[8]
Thymosin α1 is approved in some countries for the treatment ofHepatitis B and C, and it is also used to boost the immune response in the treatment of other diseases.[9][10] The synthetic version of Thymosin α1 is known asThymalfasin and is sold under the brand nameZadaxin.[11]
Thymosin α1 is usually administered bysubcutaneous injection.[7]
Clinical trials suggest thymosin α1 may be useful incystic fibrosis,septic shock,[12]acute respiratory distress syndrome,peritonitis,pancreatitis,[13]acute cytomegalovirus infection,TB,severe acute respiratory syndrome, and lung infections in critically ill patients.,[10][14] and forchronic hepatitis B.[15][16][17]
For hospitalizedCOVID-19 patients, thymosin α1 is not generally thought to reduce mortality or length of hospitalization,[18] though studies have shown conflicting results.[19]
It has been studied for possible use in treating cancer (e.g. with chemotherapy).[20]
