title: Effects of thymosin alpha-1 on erythrocyte lipid levels and erythrocyte membrane (Na(+)-K+)-ATPase activity in experimental hypercholesterolemia.
abstract: Thymosin alpha-1 is an active polypeptide isolated from thymus. This polypeptide is widely used in the diagnosis and treatment of many diseases, especially immune diseases. In this present study, we examined the effects of thymosin alpha-1 on plasma and erythrocyte lipid levels and the changes in erythrocyte membrane (Na+, K+)ATPase activity in hypercholesterolemic rabbits. The erythrocyte lipid levels decreased, whereas the erythrocyte membrane (Na+, K+)ATPase activity increased significantly in these rabbits after thymosin alpha-1 injection. These findings suggest that thymosin alpha-1 is effective on both the lipid level and erythrocyte membrane (Na+, K+)ATPase activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Istanbul, Capa, Turkey.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gökkuşu
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ademoğlu
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oz
authors.forename: U M
authors.initials: UM
authors.lastname: Türkoğlu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000201:enzymology*; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D011817:Rabbits; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / Q000097:blood*; D000077596:Thymalfasin; D013947:Thymosin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D013947:Thymosin; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase; D000077596:Thymalfasin