Thymosin alpha 1 and thymosin beta 4 in serum: comparison of normal, cord, homosexual and AIDS serum. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1987. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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Thymosin alpha 1 and thymosin beta 4 in serum: comparison of normal, cord, homosexual and AIDS serum.

Int J Immunopharmacol. 1986;8(7):667-76. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/87056217
Naylor PH; Friedman-Kien A; Hersh E; Erdos M; Goldstein AL

Abstract: Thymosin alpha 1 and thymosin beta 4 were first isolated from thymosin fr. 5 and have demonstrated biological activities on the immune system. They are chemically distinct and differ in their immunological activity profiles. The levels of thymosin alpha 1 and thymosin beta 4 were assessed by radioimmunoassay in the same serum samples. Normal thymosin alpha 1 levels were 670 +/- 163 pg/ml for males and 652 +/- 162 pg/ml for females. Normal thymosin beta 4 levels were 974 +/- 400 ng/ml for males and 889 +/- 345 ng/ml for females. No correlation between the levels of the peptides in serum from normal donors was observed. Although many samples of serum from neonates (cord blood), homosexuals and AIDS patients had elevated levels of one or both peptides, no correlation between the two peptides was found. Of potential significance is the observation that while thymosin alpha 1 and beta 4 are elevated in many individuals with AIDS (57 and 48% respectively), the individuals with AIDS related immune dysfunctions had predominantly elevated thymosin alpha 1 (54 vs 15%). These studies suggest that serum levels of the two peptides are modulated separately and that both are of potential value in defining the risk of individuals for developing AIDS.
Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*IMMUNOLOGY Comparative Study *Homosexuality Human Male Radioimmunoassay Risk Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. Thymosin/*ANALOGS & DERIVATIVES/BLOOD/CEREBROSPINAL FLUID JOURNAL ARTICLE

KWDacquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome/KWDimmunologycomparativestudyKWDhomosexualityhumanmaleradioimmunoassayrisksupport,non-uKWDsKWDgov'tsupport,uKWDsKWDgov't,pKWDhKWDsKWDthymosin/KWDanalogs&derivatives/blood/cerebrospinalfluidjournalarticle
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M8730253

Copyright © 1987 - National Library of Medicine. Reproduced under license with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.

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