Age-related changes of thymalin content in human epidermis

Immunomorphological analysis revealed the presence of thymalin in human epidermis and in fetal reticuloepithelium. These structures are developed from the common embryonic primordium ectoderm. In embryos and adult humans thymalin is present only in young epidermal cells, which undergo age-related involution. By the age of 70 years, the layer of thymalin-containing cells looks thinned and discontinuous. The content of thymalin, a thymic factor, decreases with age.

[The role of molecular genetic diagnosis in prediction and prevention of age specific pathology]

A method of molecular-genetic diagnosis of diseases in hereditary predisposition developed by the authors is novel in geriatric practice. It allows to predict such prevalent age-specific diseases as ischemic heart disease, hypertension, noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, Alzheimer's and some malignancies. Assessment of molecular-genetic, clinical and laboratory data can identify predisposition or early symptoms of the disease. Special system of prophylaxis and pathogenetic treatment is designed to prevent development of genetically predetermined age-specific diseases.

Possible involvement of aqueous medium in distant signal transmission from immunoactive dipeptides

Possible involvement of aqueous medium in distant signal transmission to target cells through solitons without formation of the ligand-receptor complexes is discussed. Temperature dependence of IR spectra for dipeptide and amino acid solutions in the far and near IR regions are presented, which prove principal possibility of such processes.

Effect of Vilon and Epithalon on glucose and glycine absorption in various regions of small intestine in aged rats

Vilon (Lys-Glu) and Epithalon (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) administered orally for 1 month improved transport characteristics of the small intestine in aged rats. Vilon enhanced passive glucose accumulation in the serous fluid in inverted sac made from the distal region of the small intestine, while Epithalon enhanced this process in the medial region. Vilon stimulated active glucose accumulation in the serous sac of the medial small intestine, Epithalon - in the proximal and distal small intestinal segments. Glycine absorption increased only in the proximal intestinal segment under the effect of Epithalon.

Effects of short peptides on thymocyte blast transformation and signal transduction along the sphingomyelin pathway

Immunomodulating effects of synthetic peptides Vilon (Lys-Glu), Epithalon (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly), and Cortagen (Ala-Glu-Asp-Pro) and possible involvement of the sphingomyelin signal transduction pathway in their effects in mouse thymocytes were studied. Vilon produced the most potent comitogenic effect on thymocyte proliferation and modulated comitogenic activity of interleukin-1b. Epithalon was less potent, while Cortagen produced no such effects. Vilon produced a more pronounced stimulatory effect on sphingomyelinase activity in mouse thymocyte membranes compared to Epithalon and Cortagen.

[Growth kinetics and functional morphology of M-1 sarcoma in rats before and after gamma-irradiation]

The study was concerned with growth of sarcoma M-1 and basic morphological characteristics of proliferative activity of cells of this strain as well as apoptosis of cells at different stages of tumor progression in rats before and after a single gamma irradiation at 30 Gy. At the parenchymal periphery which determines tumor growth, the PCNA index of proliferating cells was 76.5%; spontaneous cell death--0.28%. During post-irradiation period, the sarcoma PCNA index fell to 62.3% while the apoptotic index rose five-fold. These findings support the concept of radiation-induced apoptosis being a major pathogenetic factor responsible for effectiveness of radiotherapy of tumors. Indirect evidence on PCNA immunostaining suggested that synthesis of this cyclin is sensitive to the level of oxygen input in the cell, yet it offers sufficient resistance to gamma-radiation.

Studies of the effects of Vilon and Epithalon on gene expression in mouse heart using DNA-microarray technology

Expression of 15,247 clones from a cDNA library in the heart of mice receiving Vilon and Epithalon was studied by DNA-microarray technology. We revealed 300 clones (1.94% of the total count), whose expression changed more than by 2 times. Vilon changed expression of 36 clones, while Epithalon modulated expression of 98 clones. Combined treatment with Vilon and Epithalon changed expression of 144 clones. Vilon alone or in combination with Epithalon activated expression of 157 clones (maximally by 6.13 times) and inhibited expression of 23 clones (maximally by 2.79 times). Epithalon alone or in combination with Vilon activated expression of 194 clones (maximally by 6.61 times) and inhibited expression of 48 clones (maximally by 2.71 times). Our results demonstrate the specific effects of Epithalon and Vilon on gene expression.

Effects of epithalon on activities gastrointestinal enzymes in young and old rats

Peroral administration of Epithalon (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) to male and female Wistar rats aging 3 and 11 months changed activity of enzymes hydrolyzing carbohydrates, proteins, and phosphoric acid esters in various portions of the gastrointestinal tract. The most pronounced activation of enzymes was observed in 11-month-old animals. This effect diminished the differences in enzyme activities between young and old rats (compared to untreated animals). Our results indicate that Epithalon modulates activity of gastrointestinal enzymes during aging.

Effect of epithalon on the incidence of chromosome aberrations in senescence-accelerated mice

The incidence of chromosome aberrations in bone marrow cells of 12-month-old SAMP-1 female mice characterized by accelerated aging was 1.8 times higher than in wild-type SAMR-1 females and 2.2 times higher than in SHR females of the same age. Treatment with Epithalon (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) starting from the age of 2 months decreased the incidence of chromosome aberrations in SAMP-1, SAMR-1, and SHR mice by 20%, 30.1%, and 17.9%, respectively, compared to age-matched controls (p<0.05). Treatment with melatonin (given with drinking water in a dose of 20 mg/liter in night hours) had no effect on the incidence of chromosome aberrations in SHR mice. These data indicate antimutagenic effect of Epithalon, which probably underlies the geroprotective effect of this peptide.

[Epifamine efficacy in aspirin bronchial asthma]

Nine patients with moderate and severe aspirin bronchial asthma (ABA) received epifamine (a course dose 400 mg) in addition to continuous antiasthmatic therapy. Matched 12 ABA patients received placebo. Epifamine was found to improve the patients' clinical condition, response of distal bronchi to berotek; to promote achievement of long remission and increased production of melatonin. Thus, epifamine is effective and can be used in pathogenetic strategic therapy of ABA.

Thymic hormones in human fetal skin epidermis

Thymic hormone thymalin is detected in young epidermal cells of human fetuses. Its content varies with gestation age. Maturation of keratinocytes in the epidermis is paralleled by a decrease in the population of young thymalin-positive cells. By birth they are located on the basal membrane and in some adjacent layers. This regularity was seen in different parts of the body.

[Effect of vilon and epithalone on induction and growth of induced bladder neoplasms in rats]

Experimental data on the effect of peptides--Vilon (Lys-Glu) and Epitalon (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly)--on induction of urinary bladder tumors in rats are presented. Treatment with Vilon was followed by a significant fall in tumor incidence in 56% of experimental animals, as compared with 75.5% in control, as well as inhibition of early-onset neoplastic changes in the bladder mucosa. No inhibitory effect of Epitalon was recorded.

Immunomodulatory synthetic dipeptide L-Glu-L-Trp slows down aging and inhibits spontaneous carcinogenesis in rats

Immunomodulatory molecule L-Glu-L-Trp was isolated from natural calf thymic peptide complex Thymalin by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography. On the basis of the synthesized dipeptide a pharmaceutical was designed containing this compound, which later receives the brand name Thymogen. The agent activated T-cell differentiation, T-cell recognition of peptide-MHC complexes, induced changes in intracellular composition of cyclic nucleotides, and activated neutrophilic chemotaxis and phagocytosis. The effect of dipeptide on survival, life span and spontaneous tumor development was studied in female rats. Seventy-six, five-month-old outbred female rats were randomly subdivided into two groups and were subcutaneously injected with 0.2 ml of normal saline (controls, 32 rats) or with 5 micrograms/rat of the dipeptide L-Glu-L-Trp, dissolved in 0.2 ml of saline (44 rats), 5 times per week for 12 months. Animals were monitored up to their natural death and all the tumors discovered were studied microscopically. Mean life span of rats in both groups was similar but that of 10% maximum survived control rats constituted 949 +/- 16.1 days, whereas in the dipeptide-treated rats this value was 1048 +/- 21.1 days (P < 0.001). Six out of 44 rats treated with the drug survived over the maximum life span of control rats (965 days). The aging rate indicated as alpha in the Gompertz equation, was 0.0071 days-1 in controls and 0.0041 days-1 in rats exposed to L-Glu-L-Trp. Total tumor incidence was 1.5 times lower (P < 0.01), malignant tumor incidence 1.7 times lower (P < 0.01), and hematopoietic malignancies (leukemias and lymphomas) 3.4 times lower (P < 0.02) in rats exposed to the dipeptide in comparison with controls. Thus, treatment with L-Glu-L-Trp delayed aging rate and decreased spontaneous tumor incidence in rats.

[Thymus and aging]

This review is devoted to the analysis of current knowledge on the structure-functional organization of thymus, its role in homeostasis regulation and in mechanisms of ageing.

[Molecular physiology of aging]

The article is dedicated to the analysis of the peptide bioregulators role in molecular mechanisms of ageing and age-related pathology development. There has been put forward the concept of peptide regulation of ageing based on the priority data of authors long-term investigations on inhibition of involution processes in organs and tissues developed with age and restoration of specific proteins synthesis in cells under the influence of natural and synthetic peptide bioregulators. The prospects of peptide bioregulators employment in gerontological practice are being discussed in the paper with the purpose of treatment and prevention of age-associated pathology and human longevity increase.

[Effect of epithalone on growth kinetics and functional morphology of M-1 sarcoma]

The growth of subcutaneously-transplanted sarcoma M-1 in rat was inhibited by injection of a synthetic tetrapeptide--epitalon (2.5 (micrograms/kg). The effect lasted for two weeks after injection course. Decrease in proliferative activity was not associated with the drug's immediate cytostatic action on tumor cells. The specific mechanism of the drug's action via blood flow was shown by morphological signs of hemorrhagic necrosis of tumor and increased apoptosis of tumor cells.

[The retina and aging]

The survey offers an analysis on the modern concepts of involutionary changes in the retina and the causes of age-related pathology occurrence in the eye.

Mechanisms underlying geroprotective effects of peptides

We review the role of peptides in aging and the mechanisms underlying the geroprotective effect of peptide preparations. Geroprotective properties of peptides are associated with their influence on systems maintaining homeostasis in the body and regulation of mechanisms underlying aging. Peptides normalize synthesis of tissue-specific proteins and regulate expression of genes responsible for proliferation and differentiation of cells. Thus, peptides maintain normal physiological functions and decelerate aging.

Effect of epithalon on age-specific changes in the retina in rats with hereditary pigmentary dystrophy

The effect of peptide bioregulator Epithalon on the course of hereditary pigmentary retinal degeneration was studied in Campbell rats. Administration of epithalon starting from birth protected morphological structure, increased its bioelectrical activity, and improved its function.

[Effect of amino acids and low molecular weight peptides on the dynamics of water]

The effect of amino acids and low-molecular-weight peptides on the dynamics of water was studied. Water medium together with molecules of dipeptides and amino acids dissolved in it is considered as a complex of interacting anharmonic oscillators. It was shown that the temperature behaviour of this system is determined by nonlinear resonances, which give rise to both the phenomenon of self-synchronization in the whole system or its part and to the phenomena of phase instability and coherence decay, depending on the store of oscillatory energy. Dissolved molecules are also involved in these oscillations, and if the frequencies and amplitudes of their oscillations are within the range in which nonlinear resonance occurs, they can affect the movement of the whole system.

Modulating effects of epithalamin and epithalon on the functional morphology of the spleen in old pinealectomized rats

Immunohistochemical and morphometric analysis showed that epithalamin and epithalon produced similar effects on the functional morphology of the spleen in pinealectomized rats. Both peptides prevented hyperplasia of lymphoid cells in follicular germinative centers induced by pinealectomy and potentiated the decrease in extramedullary hemopoiesis. These findings confirm the data on functional relationships between the pineal gland and immune system. The effects of epithalamin and epithalon on cell and tissue homeostasis in the spleen of old pinealectomized rats can be regarded as a manifestation of the general regulatory effect of these peptides.

[Rhythm of protein synthesis in cultures of hepatocytes from rats of different ages. Norm and effect of the peptide livagen]

The circumhoralian rhythm of protein synthesis was determined in a monolayer culture of hepatocytes from rats at the age of 1 to 24 months and weighing from 45 to 480 g, respectively. The peptide lyvagen (Lys-Glu-Asp-Ala) obtained by directed chemical synthesis on the basis of amino acid analysis of the liver polypeptide preparations increased the level of protein synthesis in the hepatocytes from rats of different ages; the highest effect was observed in the cells of old animals. In old rats, lyvagen increased the amplitude of protein synthesis fluctuations. The peptide epitalon (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) constructed on the basis of analysis of the epiphysis peptides did not change the intensity of protein synthesis in the cultured hepatocytes.

Tissue-specific effects of peptides

Synthetic peptides (cytogens) Cortagen, Epithalon, Livagen, and Vilon stimulated the growth of explants from rat brain cortex, subcortical structures, liver, and thymus, respectively, in organotypic cultures. These peptides produced tissue-specific effects: they stimulated the growth of explants from tissues, whose cytomedins (peptide complexes) were used for chemical synthesis.