title: Thymosinalpha1 is chemopreventive for lung adenoma formation in A/J mice.
abstract: The effects of thymosin (THN) alpha1 were investigated using the urethane injection carcinogenesis A/J mouse model. Lung adenomas were observed 2.5, 3, and 4 months after urethane injection (400 mg/kg i.p.) into female A/J mice. Daily administration of THNalpha1 (0.4 mg/kg, s.c.) reduced lung adenoma multiplicity significantly, by approximately 45, 40, and 17%, respectively, 2.5, 3, and 4 months after urethane injection. Animals treated with THNalpha1 had a significantly greater white cell density than control A/J mice. Endogenous THNalpha1-like peptides were detected in the mouse lung. By radioimmunoassay and by Western blot, prothymosin alpha was detected in the mouse lung. By immunocytochemistry, THNalpha1-like peptides were detected in all lung compartments including the bronchus, adenoma, bronchioles, and alveoli. These results indicate that exogenous THNalpha1 prevents lung carcinogenesis in A/J mice.
authors.affiliation: Medicine Branch, National Cancer Institute, MD 20850, Rockville, MD 20850, USA. moodyt@bprb.nci.nih.gov
authors.forename: T W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Moody
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leyton
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zia
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tuthill
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Badamchian
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Goldstein
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000818:Animals; D001769:Blood / Q000187:drug effects; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001980:Bronchi / Q000378:metabolism; D002273:Carcinogens; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051379:Mice; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000378:metabolism; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D000077596:Thymalfasin; D013947:Thymosin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014520:Urethane
chemical_list: D002273:Carcinogens; D014520:Urethane; D013947:Thymosin; D000077596:Thymalfasin