Current Status of Thymosin and Other Hormones of the Thymus Gland
1981; Elsevier BV; Linguagem: Inglês
10.1016/b978-0-12-571137-1.50012-8
AutoresAllan L. Goldstein, Teresa L. K. Low, Gary B. Thurman, Marion M. Zatz, Nicholas R. Hall, Jieping Chen, S K Hu, John E. McClure, Paul B. Naylor,
Tópico(s)Galectins and Cancer Biology
ResumoThis chapter discusses the current status of the chemistry, biology, and clinical applications of the well-defined thymic hormones. The first biologically active polypeptide to be isolated from among the highly acidic components of bovine thymosin fraction 5 has been termed thymosin α1. This peptide is highly active in amplifying T-cell immunity and is active in modulating the expression of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase. The ultimate application of the thymosins and other thymic hormones and factors in cancer treatment should be in providing a means of safely augmenting specific T lymphocyte functions in patients with diminished thymic-dependent immunity. In anergic cancer patients, thymic hormones may be of importance as an adjunct to conventional treatments by increasing T-cell function in response not only to tumor cells but also to pathogens, thus reducing the high incidence of infection that often accompanies cancer treatment.
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