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Tao N, Xu X, Ying Y, Hu S, Sun Q, Lv G, Gao J. Thymosin α1 and Its Role in Viral Infectious Diseases: The Mechanism and Clinical Application. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28083539. [PMID: 37110771 PMCID: PMC10144173 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28083539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Thymosin α1 (Tα1) is an immunostimulatory peptide that is commonly used as an immune enhancer in viral infectious diseases such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Tα1 can influence the functions of immune cells, such as T cells, B cells, macrophages, and natural killer cells, by interacting with various Toll-like receptors (TLRs). Generally, Tα1 can bind to TLR3/4/9 and activate downstream IRF3 and NF-κB signal pathways, thus promoting the proliferation and activation of target immune cells. Moreover, TLR2 and TLR7 are also associated with Tα1. TLR2/NF-κB, TLR2/p38MAPK, or TLR7/MyD88 signaling pathways are activated by Tα1 to promote the production of various cytokines, thereby enhancing the innate and adaptive immune responses. At present, there are many reports on the clinical application and pharmacological research of Tα1, but there is no systematic review to analyze its exact clinical efficacy in these viral infectious diseases via its modulation of immune function. This review offers an overview and discussion of the characteristics of Tα1, its immunomodulatory properties, the molecular mechanisms underlying its therapeutic effects, and its clinical applications in antiviral therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nana Tao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Xie Xu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Yuyuan Ying
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Shiyu Hu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Qingru Sun
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Guiyuan Lv
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Jianli Gao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, University of Macau, Macao 999078, China
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Li X, Liu X, Zhao Y, Zhong R, Song A, Sun L. Effect of thymosin α₁ on the phenotypic and functional maturation of dendritic cells from children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Mol Med Rep 2015; 12:6093-7. [PMID: 26239360 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2015.4153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2014] [Accepted: 06/15/2015] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
To determine the effect of thymosin α1 (Tα1) on the phenotypic and functional maturation of HL‑60 cells, freeze‑thaw antigen‑loaded dendritic cells (DCs) were derived from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The DCs were generated from the PBMC samples that were collected from the PB of 10 consecutive ALL children. On day 3 of culturing, the cells in the antigen + no Tα1 (AN) and antigen + Tα1 (AT) groups were incubated with 100 µl lysates obtained from freeze‑thaw cycling. After 5 days of incubation, the AT group was administered with 100 ng/ml Tα1. On day 8, the DCs were stained with fluorescein isothiocyanate‑conjugated cluster of differentiation (CD)1a, CD83 and HLA‑DR antibodies and analyzed by flow cytometry. In addition, the killing activity of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) from the different groups on wild‑type leukemia cells was measured. The DCs in the AT group exhibited more apparent, characteristic dendritic morphologies than the control and AN group DCs. Furthermore, the lowest expression level of CD1a, and the highest expression of CD83 and HLA‑DR were observed in the AT group when compared with the AN and control groups (P<0.05). The lactate dehydrogenase release assay demonstrated that the killing rate of CTL in the AT group was significantly higher than that in the control and AN groups (P<0.01). Thus, Tα1 may markedly promote the phenotypic and functional maturation of DCs, and may serve as a suitable immunomodulator of DC‑based immunotherapy for treatment of hematological malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuerong Li
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266003, P.R. China
| | - Xiaodan Liu
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266003, P.R. China
| | - Yanxia Zhao
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266003, P.R. China
| | - Ren Zhong
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266003, P.R. China
| | - Aiqin Song
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266003, P.R. China
| | - Lirong Sun
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266003, P.R. China
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Giacomini E, Severa M, Cruciani M, Etna MP, Rizzo F, Pardini M, Scagnolari C, Garaci E, Coccia EM. Dual effect of Thymosin α 1 on human monocyte-derived dendritic cell in vitro stimulated with viral and bacterial toll-like receptor agonists. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2015; 15 Suppl 1:S59-70. [PMID: 26096650 DOI: 10.1517/14712598.2015.1019460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Thymosin α 1 (Tα1) recently gained interest as immune adjuvant for vaccines because of its ability to modulate the T-cell/dendritic cell (DC) axis and to improve antibody production. The objective of this study was to determine whether Tα1 would address in vitro the response of human primary monocyte-derived DC, crucial regulators of vaccine-induced immunity, upon exposure to different toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists or infection with viruses or bacteria. METHODS DC maturation and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines were analyzed. RESULTS Our data revealed a dual effect of Tα1 on DC biology upon viral or bacterial stimulation. Interestingly, Tα1 enhanced human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-I and II surface expression and secretion of IL-6, TNF-α and IL-8 when DCs were treated with viral TLR3 and TLR7/8 agonists. Similarly, in pandemic H1N1 influenza A-infected DCs, Tα1 raised the expression of maturation markers and type I and III Interferon (IFN). In contrast, following bacterial TLR2 and 4 stimulation, as well as upon Bacillus Calmette-Guerin infection, the presence of Tα1 in DC cultures drastically lowered the analyzed cellular parameters. CONCLUSION The knowledge that Tα1 pleiotropic effect might ameliorate anti-viral immune responses and, at the same time, dampen inflammation caused by bacterial infections could lay the groundwork for a more appropriate therapeutic application of this molecule.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Giacomini
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-mediated Diseases, Viale Regina Elena, Rome, 00151 , Italy +39 06 49903638 ; +39 06 49903638 ;
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Shao C, Tian G, Huang Y, Liang W, Zheng H, Wei J, Wei C, Yang C, Wang H, Zeng W. Thymosin alpha-1-transformed Bifidobacterium promotes T cell proliferation and maturation in mice by oral administration. Int Immunopharmacol 2013; 15:646-53. [DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2012.12.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2012] [Revised: 12/30/2012] [Accepted: 12/31/2012] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Liu Q, Zhang H, Zhou G, Xie S, Zou H, Yu Y, Li G, Sun D, Zhang G, Lu Y, Zhong Y. In vitro and in vivo study of thymosin alpha1 biodegradable in situ forming poly(lactide-co-glycolide) implants. Int J Pharm 2010; 397:122-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2010.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2010] [Accepted: 07/13/2010] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
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Moxnes JF, Albert christophersen O. The Spanish flu as a worst case scenario? MICROBIAL ECOLOGY IN HEALTH AND DISEASE 2009. [DOI: 10.1080/08910600701699067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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Chen X, Yu Y, Pan Q, Tang Z, Han J, Zang G. Enhancement of cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity by dendritic cells loaded with Tat-protein transduction domain-fused hepatitis B virus core antigen. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2008; 40:996-1004. [PMID: 19089297 DOI: 10.1111/j.1745-7270.2008.00487.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The protein transduction domain (PTD) of human immunodeficiency virus-1-Tat protein has a unique potency to penetrate the cellular membranes. To synthesize the sequence of Tat-PTD47-57 and hepatitis B virus core antigen (HBcAg), we spliced these sequences and linked a fusion gene into the pMAL-c2x vector. The fusion proteins were purified by affinity chromatography and pulsed with bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (DCs), and the transduction of recombinant protein was detected by immunofluorescence antibody assay. Results showed that recombinant PTD-HBcAg could penetrate into DC cytoplasm while recombinant HBcAg was detected on the surface of cells. The percentage of DC surface molecules, such as CD80, CD86 and major histocompatibility complex II, and production of cytokine (IL-12p70) induced by recombinant PTD-HBcAg were significantly higher than those induced by recombinant HBcAg or tumor necrosis factor-alpha. DCs treated with PTD-HBcAg induced T cells to differentiate into specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and enhanced the CTL killing response. In conclusion, the expressed and purified PTD-HBcAg fusion protein could penetrate into cells through the plasma membrane, promote DC maturation, and enhance T cells response to generate HBcAg-specific CTLs efficiently.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohua Chen
- Department of Infectious Disease, Shanghai No. 6 People's Hospital, College of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
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Expression and hydroxylamine cleavage of thymosin alpha 1 concatemer. J Biomed Biotechnol 2008; 2008:736060. [PMID: 18645619 PMCID: PMC2467460 DOI: 10.1155/2008/736060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2007] [Revised: 02/21/2008] [Accepted: 06/15/2008] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Human thymosin alpha 1 (Tα1) is an important peptide in the development and senescence of immunological competence in human, and many studies have reported the expression of this peptide. In this study, we designed and synthesized the Tα1 gene according to the E. coli codon usage preference and constructed a 6×Tα1 concatemer. The latter was inserted into an E. coli expression vector pET-22b (+), and transformed into E. coli BL21 (DE3). After induction with IPTG, the concatemer protein was successfully expressed in E. coli then cleaved by hydroxylamine to release the Tα1 monomer. Gly-SDS-PAGE and mass spectrometry confirmed that the recombinant protein was cleaved as intended. The bioactivity of the Tα1 monomer was analyzed by lymphocyte proliferation and by mitochondrial activity in two different tumor cell lines. This study provides a description of the preparation of a bioactive Tα1, which may prove useful in future biomedical research.
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Chen PF, Fu GF, Zhang HY, Xu GX, Hou YY. Liposomal plasmid DNA encoding human thymosin alpha and interferon omega potently inhibits liver tumor growth in ICR mice. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2006; 21:1538-43. [PMID: 16928214 DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1746.2006.04536.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
AIM To evaluate the potential therapeutic effect of liposomal gene delivery, genes encoding for human thymosin alpha1 (Talpha1) and interferon omega1 were injected via the tail vein into mice bearing a Hep-A-22 liver tumor. METHODS The cDNA of human Talpha1 and interferon omega1 were obtained by synthesis or reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), respectively. Eukaryotic expressing vectors pIRES2, encoding Talpha1 and/or interferon omega1, were constructed and injected with liposome via the tail vein into ICR mice bearing a Hep-A-22 tumor. The potency of tumor inhibition was evaluated when three treated groups were compared with the group receiving the empty vector. Apoptosis of tumor cells was investigated by analyzing DNA fragmentation. RESULTS Only the group treated with dual-gene plasmid reached an eligible level of tumor inhibition (43%). The difference in tumor weight was statistically significant between the Talpha1 gene or the interferon omega1 gene treated groups and the control (P<0.05), and highly significant between the dual-gene treated group and the control (P<0.01). DNA ladder was observed in the tumor cells from the purpose gene treated groups but not from the control. CONCLUSION The dual-gene plasmid-liposome complex showed more potent inhibition than the single gene constructs on the growth of Hep-A-22 tumor cells in mice, which may be attributed to indirect and additive induction of apoptosis in tumor cells by increased expression of Talpha1 and interferon omega1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Fu Chen
- Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
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Huang Y, Chen Z, Jia H, Wu W, Zhong S, Zhou C. Induction of Tc1 response and enhanced cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity in mice by dendritic cells transduced with adenovirus expressing HBsAg. Clin Immunol 2006; 119:280-90. [PMID: 16531121 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2006.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2005] [Revised: 12/30/2005] [Accepted: 01/17/2006] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
We evaluated the potential of dendritic cells (DCs) engineered to express antigen of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in priming Th/Tc and HBV-specific CTL responses in mice. Recombinant adenovirus expressing hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) (Ad-S) was constructed, and bone marrow-derived DCs were transduced with Ad-S or pulsed with HBsAg protein. Mice were injected with either Ad-S-transduced DCs or HBsAg-pulsed DCs or plasmid DNA encoding HBsAg twice at 3-week intervals. We showed that adenovirus infection had no further effect on the phenotype, the ability to induce IFN-gamma-producing Th1/Tc1 response or the T cell stimulatory capacity of already mature DCs in vitro. We also showed that immunization with Ad-S-transduced DCs effectively induced Tc1 cells and HBsAg-specific CTLs in vivo and down-regulated the circulating HBsAg and HBV DNA in HBV transgenic mice. Furthermore, these efficacies were stronger than that of HBsAg-pulsed DCs and plasmid DNA. Thus, DCs transduced with recombinant adenovirus may be a promising candidate for an effective CTL-based therapeutic vaccine against HBV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin Huang
- Institute of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, Medical College, Zhejiang University, Qingchun Road 79, Hangzhou 310003, China
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CHEN PF, ZHANG HY, FU GF, XU GX, HOU YY. Overexpression of Soluble Human Thymosin Alpha 1 in Escherichia coli. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2005. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1745-7270.2005.00014.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
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