Immunostimulatory activity of prothymosin-alpha in senescence.
In this study we evaluated the immunorestorative activity of prothymosin-alpha (ProT-alpha) in senescence. Aged rats were repeatedly injected with ProT-alpha after antigen challenge. Both humoral and cell-mediated immune reactions were tested. The results show that ProT-alpha exerted a marked immunopotentiating effect in aged rats. Moreover, ProT-alpha induced enhancement of PFC response, and skin hypersensitivity reactions were more pronounced in senescent rats than in young adult controls. ProT-alpha treatment increased thymus and spleen weights in aged rats, and induced qualitative and quantitative improvements of the cellular make-up of the thymus and thymus-dependent areas of the spleen. The results imply that "restoring" thymus endocrine function by exogenous administration of ProT-alpha may improve immune system homeostasis in senescence.
Marić
D
D
Immunology Research Center, Belgrade, Yugoslavia.
Janković
B D
BD
Veljić
J
J
D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006384:Hemagglutination; D006462:Hemolytic Plaque Technique; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012882:Skin Tests; D013947:Thymosin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology
D011498:Protein Precursors; C040782:prothymosin alpha; D013947:Thymosin