title: Immunomodulatory function of orally administered thymosin alpha1.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the immunological function of a yeast expression system for thymosin alpha1 (Talpha1).
  
  
  METHODS
  A constructed Talpha1 yeast expression system was used to investigate the immunological function of orally administered Talpha1. Dried yeast containing three different concentration of Talpha1 was fed to normal Balb/c mice and other Balb/c mice whose immunities were inhibited in advance by cyclophosphamide. Synthesized Talpha1 peptide was used as positive control and dried yeast with empty plasmid was used as negative control. CD4(+) and CD8(+) levels were detected by flow cytometry assay. TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-6 and IL-10 levels were detected by liquid chip.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In normal Balb/c mice or immune inhibition Balb/c mice, CD8(+) levels were significantly increased. Especially in immune inhibition Balb/c mice, CD8(+) levels in synthesized Talpha1 group (18.77%+/-4.72%), small dose group (13.48%+/-6.17%) and large dose group (22.74%+/-1.09%) were significantly higher than that in empty yeast control group (7.49%+/-2.14%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Orally administered Talpha1 has its certain immunomodulatory function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, China.
authors.forename: Xiang-Ming
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Han-Liang
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Lin-Fu
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Xiao-Ping
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Zhong-Rong
authors.initials: ZR
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Rong-Hua
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xiao-Ming
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zhi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000633:toxicity; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000235:genetics; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000633:toxicity; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics; D000077596:Thymalfasin; D013947:Thymosin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013947:Thymosin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D000077596:Thymalfasin