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Thymosin α1

Protein-coding gene in the species Homo sapiens

Summary

Protein-coding gene in the species Homo sapiens

| elimination_half-life = Thymosin α1 is a peptide fragment derived from prothymosin alpha, a protein that in humans is encoded by the PTMA gene.

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 sequence Ac-SDAAVDTSSEITTKDLKEKKEVEEEAEN, which is made from cleavage of a longer, 113-amino acid precursor, prothymosin α.

Function

Thymosin α1 is an agonist for toll-like receptor 2 and toll-like receptor 9 on both myeloid and dendritic antigen-presenting cells, thereby stimulating the adaptive immune response.

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.

Therapeutic application

Thymosin α1 is approved in some countries for the treatment of Hepatitis B and C, and it is also used to boost the immune response in the treatment of other diseases. The synthetic version of Thymosin α1 is known as Thymalfasin and is sold under the brand name Zadaxin.

Thymosin α1 is usually administered by subcutaneous injection.

Clinical studies

Clinical trials suggest thymosin α1 may be useful in cystic fibrosis, septic shock, acute respiratory distress syndrome, peritonitis, pancreatitis, acute cytomegalovirus infection, TB, severe acute respiratory syndrome, and lung infections in critically ill patients., and for chronic hepatitis B.

For hospitalized COVID-19 patients, thymosin α1 is not generally thought to reduce mortality or length of hospitalization, though studies have shown conflicting results.

It has been studied for possible use in treating cancer (e.g. with chemotherapy).

References

References

  1. (Jul 1992). "The human prothymosin alpha gene family contains several processed pseudogenes lacking deleterious lesions". Genomics.
  2. Garaci E. (September 2007). "Thymosin alpha1: a historical overview". Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci..
  3. (January 1975). "Thymosin activity in patients with cellular immunodeficiency". N. Engl. J. Med..
  4. (September 2007). "Thymosin alpha 1: from bench to bedside". Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci..
  5. (May 2009). "From lab to bedside: emerging clinical applications of thymosin alpha 1". Expert Opin Biol Ther.
  6. (2023). "Therapeutic applications of thymosin peptides: A patent landscape 2018-present". Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Patents.
  7. (2020). "Thymosin alpha 1: A comprehensive review of the literature". [[World Journal of Virology]].
  8. (2025). "Efficacy of thymosin α1 for sepsis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials". Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology.
  9. (2025). "Thymosin alpha 1 alleviates inflammation and prevents infection in patients with severe acute pancreatitis through immune regulation: A systematic review and meta-analysis". Frontiers in Immunology.
  10. (2024). "Thymosin Alpha 1 Plus Routine Treatment for the Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis". Journal of the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan.
  11. (2015). "Thymosin alpha-1 treatment in chronic hepatitis B". Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy.
  12. (2024). "Comprehensive Review of the Safety and Efficacy of Thymosin Alpha 1 in Human Clinical Trials". Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine.
  13. (2025). "Aging and Thymosin Alpha-1". International Journal of Molecular Sciences.
  14. (2023). "Thymosin alpha1 use in adult COVID-19 patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis on clinical outcomes". International Immunopharmacology.
  15. (2023). "The efficacy of thymosin alpha-1 therapy in moderate to critical COVID-19 patients: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression". Inflammopharmacology.
  16. (2000). "Thymosin alpha 1 in the treatment of cancer: from basic research to clinical application". Int J Immunopharmacol.
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