title: In vivo effect of prothymosin-alpha 1 on humoral and cell-mediated immune responses in the young rat.
abstract: There is a large body of evidence for the role of thymosin peptides in immunogenesis and immunity. In this paper we report on the influence of prothymosin alpha 1 (ProT-alpha 1), a hormone-like peptide derived from the calf thymus, on humoral and cellular immune reactions in the rat. Young adults received intraperitoneal injections of ProT-alpha 1 in the periods before and after immunization with cellular and soluble antigens. ProT-alpha-treatment produced a dose-dependent increase of both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. The thymus weight increased but not that of spleen. Treatment of nonimmunized rats with this polypeptide significantly elevated the number of CD4+ and decreased the number of CD8+ cells in the peripheral blood. The results suggest a potent immunostimulatory activity of ProT-alpha 1 and imply direct action of this polypeptide on T lymphocytes.
authors.affiliation: Immunology Research Center, Yugoslavia.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marić
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Veljić
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ranin
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Janković
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects*; D001183:Arthus Reaction / Q000276:immunology; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D006462:Hemolytic Plaque Technique; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012756:Sheep / Q000276:immunology; D013947:Thymosin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D011498:Protein Precursors; C040782:prothymosin alpha; D013947:Thymosin