Phenotypic correction of Age-associated functional decline in murine immune cells by Thymax, a thymic extract.
BACKGROUND
We have recently demonstrated that Thymax, a gross thymic extract, induces the functional activity of human dendritic cells (DCs) in vitro. In this study, the role of Thymax in phenotypic correction of age-associated functional decline in immune cells in mice was evaluated.


METHODS
C57BL/6 mice (13 months old) were treated with Thymax orally (20% v/v) for 4 weeks. Different splenic cell types, dendritic cells (DCs), B-cells, T-cells and natural killer (NK) cells, were analyzed using flow cytometry.


RESULTS
Treatment with Thymax resulted in: i) a significant increase in the percentages of DCs (1.6-fold), B-cells (7-fold) and T-cells (5-fold) over the control (p<0.05); ii) an increase in the percentages of activation markers (CD25 and CD69) of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-cells; and iii) an enhancement in NK activity. Thymax showed no adverse side-effects.


CONCLUSIONS
Thymax might have a role in reversing immune dysfunction in the elderly.
Ghoneum
Mamdooh
M
Department of Otolaryngology, Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, California 90059, USA. mghoneum@ucla.edu
Tolentino
Lucilene
L
Seto
Yoshikazu
Y
D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002452:Cell Count; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004326:Drinking / Q000187:drug effects; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010641:Phenotype; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013949:Thymus Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*
D015703:Antigens, CD; D015415:Biomarkers; D013949:Thymus Extracts