title: Jack of all trades: thymosin α1 and its pleiotropy.
abstract: Thymosin α1 (Tα1), a thymosin-related 28-mer synthetic amino-terminal acetylated peptide, has gained increasing interest in recent years, due to its pleiotropy. The peptide has been used worldwide as an adjuvant or immunotherapeutic agent to treat disparate human diseases, including viral infections, immunodeficiencies, and malignancies. The peptide can enhance T cell, dendritic cell (DC), and antibody responses, modulate cytokine and chemokine production, and block steroid-induced apoptosis of thymocytes. Its central role in modulating DC function and activating multiple signaling pathways that contribute to different functions may offer a plausible explanation for its pleiotropic action. Additionally, the ability of Tα1 to activate the indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase enzyme-which confers immune tolerance during transplantation and restrains the vicious circle of chronic inflammation-has been a turning point, suggesting a potential, specific function in immunity. Accordingly, Tα1 has recently been shown to promote immune reconstitution and improve survival of recipients of HLA-matched sibling T cell-depleted stem cell transplants in a phase I/II clinical trial. Thus, Tα1 continues to live up to its promises.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Science, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy. lromani@unipg.it
authors.forename: Luigina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Romani
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moretti
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fallarino
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bozza
authors.forename: Loredana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ruggeri
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Casagrande
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Aversa
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bistoni
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Velardi
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Garaci
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D050503:Indoleamine-Pyrrole 2,3,-Dioxygenase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D000077596:Thymalfasin; D013947:Thymosin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D050503:Indoleamine-Pyrrole 2,3,-Dioxygenase; D013947:Thymosin; D000077596:Thymalfasin