Increase of mouse resistance to Candida albicans infection by thymosin alpha 1.
Studies were carried out to assess the ability of thymosin alpha 1 to prolong the survival of mice challenged with Candida albicans. Two- to four-month-old mice were treated with graded doses of thymosin alpha 1 before, after, or before and after intravenous challenge with C. albicans. Significant resistance ot lethal infection was afforded by 100 micrograms of thymosin alpha 1 per kg given before or before and after challenge, whereas no protection was found in mice treated with thymosin alpha 1 administered at any dose level after inoculation. Pretreatment with thymosin alpha 1 also prevented the increased susceptibility to C. albicans infection of mice pretreated with cyclophosphamide on day -6. The results showed that thymosin alpha 1 was capable of protecting untreated or cyclophosphamide-pretreated mice from C. albicans infection at an optimal dose and schedule of administration.
D000818:Animals; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000276:immunology*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D000077596:Thymalfasin; D013947:Thymosin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013951:Thymus Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors
D013951:Thymus Hormones; D013947:Thymosin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D000077596:Thymalfasin