Thymosin α-1 in cancer therapy: Immunoregulation and potential applications.

Int Immunopharmacol

Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical School of Southeast University, 210009 Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China; BenQ Medical Center, The Affiliated BenQ Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 210019 Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China. Electronic address:

Published: April 2023

Thymosin α-1 (Tα-1) is an immunomodulating polypeptide of 28 amino acids, which was the first peptide isolated from thymic tissue and has been widely used for the treatment of viral infections, immunodeficiencies, and especially malignancies. Tα-1 stimulates both innate and adaptive immune responses, and its regulation of innate immune cells and adaptive immune cells varies under different disease conditions. Pleiotropic regulation of immune cells by Tα-1 depends on activation of Toll-like receptors and its downstream signaling pathways in various immune microenvironments. For treatment of malignancies, the combination of Tα-1 and chemotherapy has a strong synergistic effect by enhancing the anti-tumor immune response. On the basis of the pleiotropic effect of Tα-1 on immune cells and the promising results of preclinical studies, Tα-1 may be a favorable immunomodulator to enhance the curative effect and decrease immune-related adverse events of immune checkpoint inhibitors to develop novel cancer therapies.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.intimp.2023.109744DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

immune cells
16
thymosin α-1
8
immune
8
adaptive immune
8
tα-1
6
α-1 cancer
4
cancer therapy
4
therapy immunoregulation
4
immunoregulation potential
4
potential applications
4

Similar Publications

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is a second-line treatment with curative potential for leukemia patients. However, the prognosis of allo-HSCT patients with disease relapse or graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) is poor. CD4 or CD8 conventional T (Tconv) cells are critically involved in mediating anti-leukemic immune responses to prevent relapse and detrimental GvHD.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Immune cells within tumor tissues play important roles in remodeling the tumor microenvironment, thus affecting tumor progression and the therapeutic response. The current study was designed to identify key markers of plasma cells and explore their role in high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC).

Methods: We utilized single-cell sequencing data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database to identify key immune cell types within HGSOC tissues and to extract related markers via the Seurat package.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The role of BATF in immune cell differentiation and autoimmune diseases.

Biomark Res

January 2025

Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Medical Immunology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.

As a member of the Activator Protein-1 (AP-1) transcription factor family, the Basic Leucine Zipper Transcription Factor (BATF) mediates multiple biological functions of immune cells through its involvement in protein interactions and binding to DNA. Recent studies have demonstrated that BATF not only plays pivotal roles in innate and adaptive immune responses but also acts as a crucial factor in the differentiation and function of various immune cells. Lines of evidence indicate that BATF is associated with the onset and progression of allergic diseases, graft-versus-host disease, tumors, and autoimmune diseases.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

E. Coli cytotoxic necrotizing factor-1 promotes colorectal carcinogenesis by causing oxidative stress, DNA damage and intestinal permeability alteration.

J Exp Clin Cancer Res

January 2025

Department of Cardiovascular, Endocrine-Metabolic Diseases and Aging, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.

Background: Bacterial toxins are emerging as promising hallmarks of colorectal cancer (CRC) pathogenesis. In particular, Cytotoxic Necrotizing Factor 1 (CNF1) from E. coli deserves special consideration due to the significantly higher prevalence of this toxin gene in CRC patients with respect to healthy subjects, and to the numerous tumor-promoting effects that have been ascribed to the toxin in vitro.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Radiofrequency ablation combined with immunotherapy to treat hepatocellular carcinoma: a comprehensive review.

BMC Surg

January 2025

General Surgery, Cancer Center, Department of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Affiliated People's Hospital, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, 310014, Zhejiang, China.

Background And Aim: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly immunogenic tumor and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide with an increasing incidence. Therefore, the combination of immunotherapy with other approaches, such as anti-angiogenic agents and local area therapy, has become a new strategy for HCC treatment.

Methods: We searched PubMed and Web of Science and extracted publications relating to the radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and immunotherapy.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!