title: Thymosin alpha(1) application augments immune response and down-regulates tumor weight and organ colonization in BALB/c-mice.
abstract: The immunomodulatory and antimetastatic/antitumor activity of thymosin alpha(1) (Talpha(1)) was evaluated in BALB/c-mice. Daily subcutaneous application (7 consecutive days, 0.01-10 microg of Talpha(1)/injection per mouse) upregulated the number of thymocytes and peripheral blood cells in tumor bearing mice. To check the influence of Talpha(1) treatment on growth of experimental metastases, RAW H10 lymphosarcoma cells or L-1 sarcoma cells were intravenously injected into BALB/c-mice to establish liver or lung metastases. Local tumor growth was induced by subcutaneous injection of L-1 sarcoma cells. Talpha(1) was subcutaneously administered daily for 7 consecutive days starting 24 h after tumor cell challenge. Organ colonization, as well as local tumor growth, were investigated on day 14 after tumor cell inoculation, and demonstrated a statistically significant (P<0.05) reduction of experimental liver and lung metastases and local tumor growth for Talpha(1) treated mice.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Scientific Evaluation of Naturopathy, University of Cologne, Robert-Koch-Strasse 10, 50931, Cologne, Germany. josef.beuth@medizin.uni-koeln.de
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Beuth
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Schierholz
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mayer
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007109:Immunity / Q000187:drug effects*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000556:secondary; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D000077596:Thymalfasin; D013947:Thymosin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D013947:Thymosin; D000077596:Thymalfasin