title: Advances in the basic and clinical applications of thymosin β4.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Thymosin β4 (Tβ4), a multifunctional peptide, has been used successfully in several clinical trials involving tissue repair and regeneration. The review will first update the current information on the common underlying cellular cascades and pathways that are basic to Tβ4's regenerative activity and second, on the current and potential uses of this protein in the clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Significant advances in our understanding of the actions of Tβ4 have occurred in directing stem cell maturation and in regeneration and repair of injuries. Many of its activities directly affect the repair cascade following injury. Using PubMed, we summarize the discovery and isolation of Tβ4 as well as the studies on tissue repair, which have provided the scientific foundation for ongoing and projected trials in the treatment of eye injuries, dermal wounds, repair of the heart following myocardial infarction and healing of the brain following stroke, trauma or neurological diseases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on its multifunctional activities during tissue regeneration in various animal studies, Tβ4 has the potential for new clinical applications such kidney and liver disease, as well as repair of spinal cord, bone and ligament damage. In addition, it may be useful in the treatment of a wide range of other applications, including the consequences of aging and viral infections.
authors.affiliation: The George Washington University, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine , 2300 Eye Street NW, Ross Hall, Washington, DC , USA +1 240 899 2749 ; hkleinman@dir.nidcr.nih.gov.
authors.forename: Allan L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Goldstein
authors.forename: Hynda K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Kleinman
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D004820:Epidermolysis Bullosa / Q000188:drug therapy; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy; D012038:Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013947:Thymosin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014647:Varicose Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy; D000099201:Thymosin beta(4)
chemical_list: D013947:Thymosin; D000099201:Thymosin beta(4)
keywords: angiogenesis; apoptosis; endothelial progenitor cells; fibrosis; inflammation; ischemic injury; migration; regeneration; scar formation; thymosin β4; tissue repair