Thymosin α1 as a stimulatory agent of innate cell-mediated immune response.
The innate immune response and its cellular effectors-peripheral blood mononuclear cells and differentiated macrophages-play a crucial role in detection and elimination of pathogenic microorganisms. Chemotherapy and some immunosuppressive drugs used after organ transplantation and for treatment of autoimmune diseases have, as main side effect, bone marrow suppression, which can lead to a reduced response of the innate immune system. Hence, many immune-depressed patients have a higher risk of developing bacterial and invasive fungal infections compared with immune-competent individuals. Thymosin α1 (Tα1) immunomodulatory activity on effector cells of the innate immunity has been extensively described, even if its mechanism of action is not completely understood. Here, we report some of the main knowledge on this topic, focusing on our in vitro and in vivo work in progress that reinforce the validity of Tα1 as a stimulatory agent for detection and elimination of pathogens by differentiated macrophages and for restoring immune parameters after chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression.
Institute of Translational Pharmacology-National Research Council of Italy, Rome, Italy. annalucia.serafino@ift.cnr.it
Annalucia
A
Serafino
Pasquale
P
Pierimarchi
Francesca
F
Pica
Federica
F
Andreola
Roberta
R
Gaziano
Noemi
N
Moroni
Manuela
M
Zonfrillo
Paola
P
Sinibaldi-Vallebona
Enrico
E
Garaci
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects*; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000187:drug effects*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D000077596:Thymalfasin; D013947:Thymosin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D013947:Thymosin; D000077596:Thymalfasin