TY - JOUR
T1 - Thymosin α1 and thymosin β4 in serum
T2 - Comparison of normal, cord, homosexual and AIDS serum
AU - Naylor, Paul H.
AU - Friedman-Kien, Alvin
AU - Hersh, Evan
AU - Erdos, Michael
AU - Goldstein, Allan L.
N1 - Funding Information:
Acknowledgements--We would like to thank Drs Paul McCurdy, and Fred Darr, and the staff at the Red Cross Blood Center, Washington, D.C. for their assistance in obtaining a large sample of normal controls. We would also like to thank Cartha Naylor for the graphs, Richard Mercer for the computer analysis and the typing and editing of our secretarial staff. These studies were supported by grants and gifts from the National Cancer Institute (CA 24974), Alpha 1 Biomedicals Inc.
PY - 1986
Y1 - 1986
N2 - Thymosin α1 and thymosin β4 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 α1 and thymosin β4 were assessed by radioimmunoassay in the same serum samples. Normal thymosin α1 levels were 670 ± 163 pg/ml for males and 652 ± 162 pg/ml for females. Normal thymosin β4 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 α1 and β4 are elevated in many individuals with AIDS (57 and 48% respectively), the individuals with AIDS related immune dysfunctions had predominantly elevated thymosin α1 (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.
AB - Thymosin α1 and thymosin β4 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 α1 and thymosin β4 were assessed by radioimmunoassay in the same serum samples. Normal thymosin α1 levels were 670 ± 163 pg/ml for males and 652 ± 162 pg/ml for females. Normal thymosin β4 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 α1 and β4 are elevated in many individuals with AIDS (57 and 48% respectively), the individuals with AIDS related immune dysfunctions had predominantly elevated thymosin α1 (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.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0022536617&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0022536617&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/0192-0561(86)90001-9
DO - 10.1016/0192-0561(86)90001-9
M3 - Article
C2 - 3781707
AN - SCOPUS:0022536617
SN - 0192-0561
VL - 8
SP - 667
EP - 676
JO - International Journal of Immunopharmacology
JF - International Journal of Immunopharmacology
IS - 7
ER -