Journal of Zhejiang University SCIENCE
(ISSN 1009-3095, Monthly)
2005 Vol. 6B No. 9 p.873-876
Immunomodulatory function of orally administered thymosin α1
CHEN Xiang-ming1, JIANG Han-liang2, ZHOU Lin-fu2, PAN Xiao-ping2, HU Zhong-rong2, LIU Rong-hua2, CHEN Xiao-ming2, CHEN Zhi†‡2
(1Department of Anesthesiology, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, China)
(2Institute of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China)
†E-mail: chenzhi@zju.edu.cn
Received Dec. 29, 2004; revision accepted Apr. 9, 2005
Abstract: Objective: To investigate the immunological function of a yeast expression system for thymosin α1 (Tα1). Methods: A constructed Tα1 yeast expression system was used to investigate the immunological function of orally administered Tα1. Dried yeast containing three different concentration of Tα1 was fed to normal Balb/c mice and other Balb/c mice whose immunities were inhibited in advance by cyclophosphamide. Synthesized Tα1 peptide was used as positive control and dried yeast with empty plasmid was used as negative control. CD4+ and CD8+ levels were detected by flow cytometry assay. TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-6 and IL-10 levels were detected by liquid chip. Results: In normal Balb/c mice or immune inhibition Balb/c mice, CD8+ levels were significantly increased. Especially in immune inhibition Balb/c mice, CD8+ levels in synthesized Tα1 group (18.77%±4.72%), small dose group (13.48%±6.17%) and large dose group (22.74%±1.09%) were significantly higher than that in empty yeast control group (7.49%±2.14%). Conclusion: Orally administered Tα1 has its certain immunomodulatory function.
Key words: Thymosin α1, Yeast expression system, Biological activity, Orally administered
doi:10.1631/jzus.2005.B0873 CLC number: R392.11