Thymalfasin, also known as Thymosin Alpha 1, is a protein and polypeptide hormone produced by the superficial cortical and medullary epithelial cells of the thymus gland. It possesses immune-enhancing properties.
Basic Information
CAS Number: 69440-99-9
Molecular Formula: C129H215N33O55
Molecular Weight: 3108
EINECS Number: 1592732-453-0
Pharmacological Effects
Immunomodulatory Effects: Thymalfasin plays a crucial role in the formation, differentiation, maturation, and antiviral and antitumor activities of T cells. It enhances immune regulation by increasing the absolute numbers of lymphocytes, natural killer cells in the liver, CD3+ and CD4+ cells, among others.
Promotion of Cell Differentiation and Maturation: Thymalfasin promotes the maturation and differentiation of dendritic cells (DC cells) derived from bone marrow, which in turn facilitates the maturation and differentiation of T cells.
Enhanced Cytokine Production: Thymalfasin enhances the production of various cytokines, such as interferon and interleukins IL-2 and IL-3, by activating mitogen or antigen receptors, thereby increasing the expression of IL-2 receptors and promoting the differentiation of T cells into Th1 cells with significant antiviral effects.
Clinical Applications
Treatment or Adjuvant Therapy for Liver Diseases: Thymalfasin is primarily used for the treatment or adjuvant therapy of liver diseases such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, liver cirrhosis, primary liver cancer, and severe viral hepatitis. It demonstrates remarkable therapeutic effects with low side effects, good tolerability, and is a class B drug for medical insurance reimbursement for the treatment of hepatitis B and hepatitis C in China.
Cancer Treatment: Thymalfasin significantly reduces the recurrence rate after tumor surgery and alleviates side effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. It is commonly used in the treatment of malignancies such as malignant lymphoma, cardiac esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, and rectal cancer.
Antiinfective Therapy: Thymalfasin can be combined with other drugs for antiinfective therapy, such as in the treatment of recurrent respiratory infections in children, refractory pulmonary tuberculosis, and herpes zoster.
Neurological Regulation: Thymalfasin also acts on the nervous system and the perivascular endothelium, modulating synaptic transmission in hippocampal neurons and preventing neurotoxicity induced by chemotherapy and other anticancer treatments in cancer patients.
