Augmentation of Mitogen-Induced Interferon Production in Lymphocytes by Thymosin

Abstract

Thymosin (thymosin fraction 5), in combination with mitogen (concanavalin A) augments the amount of interferon produced in human peripheral blood lymphocytes (in vitro studies). In addition, after pretreatment of mice with thymosin (intraperitoneal administration), thymosin augments the mitogen-induced interferon production in mouse lymphocytes in vitro. The produced interferon is immune interferon (IFN-gamma) as determined by sensitivity to pH 2 and lack of neutralization by antibodies to IFN-alpha or IFN-beta. Results indicate that thymic hormones may also participate in the regulation of interferon production.

Thymopentin Prophylactic Treatment in Patients With Recurrent Respiratory Infections

“…This interaction constitutes the basis of cell‐mediated immunity. Interferon gamma (gamma‐IFN) appears to be an essentially important macrophage‐activating lymphokine, 54 and (as previously mentioned 42 , 43 ) the release of this lymphokine is being stimulated by thymopentin. Blood monocytes and tissue macrophages are also primary sources of interleukin 1 (Il‐1), which has a particularly potent effect on the inflammatory response 56 .…”

“…In fact, the enhancement of Il‐2‐synthesis might be a crucial mechanism of the immunopharmacological action of thymopentin in ageing humans 18 , 41 . The increased production of gamma‐IFN 42 , 43 stimulates macrophages and increases class II MHC expression on them and B‐cells. In these and many other ways, T‐cells aid inflammation 44 .…”

Effect of Splenopentin (SP-5) on the Antibody Formation in Immunosuppressed Mice

“…Furthermore, it affects the induction and augmentation of mitogen-induced immune interferon (IFN) production (Diezel et al, 1984;Rentz et al, 1984).…”

Splenopentin (DAc SP-5) — Accelerated Reconstitution of Antibody Formation after Syngeneic Bone Marrow Transplantation *)

“…Splenin, a 49 amino acid polypeptide hormone of the spleen is able to influence both early T cell and B cell differentiation (Audhya et al, 1981;Audhya et al, 1984). Surprisingly, the pentapeptide Arg-Lys-Glu-Val-Tyr, corresponding to residues 32-36 of splenin, was shown to have the biological properties of splenin (Audhya et al, 1984;Diezel et al, 1984;Rentz et al, 1984). Audhya et al (1984) proposed to call this peptide splenopentin (SP-o).…”

“…Audhya et al (1984) proposed to call this peptide splenopentin (SP-o). The biological activity of SP-o was investigated in vitro in relation to its activity in inducing both Thy-1+ and Lyb-2.1+ antigens on lymphocytes (Audhya et aI., 1984), in affecting peripheral T cells to produce inferferon-gamma (Diezel et al, 1984;Rentz et a]., 1984) and in accelerating the reconstitution of the antibody response (Eckert et al, 1986;Diezel et al, 1986).…”