Prepared for special issue on thymosins Thymosin β4 and the anti-fibrotic switch

Authors

Hynda K. Kleinman, NIDCR, NIH, Bethesda, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States. Electronic address: hyndakk@aol.com.
Veronika Kulik, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Medicine, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States.
Allan L. Goldstein, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Medicine, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States.

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

12-27-2022

Journal

International immunopharmacology

Volume

115

DOI

10.1016/j.intimp.2022.109628

Keywords

Ac-SDKP; Collagen; Fibrosis; Scar; Thymosin β4; Wound healing

Abstract

Wound healing involves a rapid response to the injury by circulating cells, followed by inflammation with an influx of inflammatory cells that release various factors. Soon after, cellular proliferation begins to replace the damaged cells and extracellular matrix, and then tissue remodeling restores normal tissue function. Various factors can lead to pathological wound healing when excessive and irreversible connective tissue/extracellular matrix deposition occurs, resulting in fibrosis. The process is initiated when immune cells, such as macrophages, release soluble factors that stimulate fibroblasts. TGFβ is the most well-characterized macrophage derived pro-fibrotic mediator. Other soluble mediators of fibrosis include connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and interleukin 10 (IL-10). Thymosin β4 (Tβ4) has shown therapeutic benefit in preventing fibrosis/scarring in various animal models of fibrosis/scarring. The mechanism of action of Tβ4 appears related, in part, to a reduction in the inflammatory response, including a reduction in macrophage infiltration, decreased levels of TGFβ and IL-10, and reduced CTGF activation, resulting in both prevention of fibroblast conversion to myofibroblasts and production of normally aligned collagen fibers. The amino N-terminal end of Tβ4, SDKP (serine-aspartate-lysine-proline), appears to contain the majority of anti-fibrotic activity and has shown excellent efficacy in many animal models of fibrosis, including liver, lung, heart, and kidney fibrosis. Ac-SDKP not only prevents fibrosis but can reverse fibrosis. Unanswered questions and future directions will be presented with regard to therapeutic uses alone and in combination with already approved drugs for fibrosis.

APA Citation

Kleinman, Hynda K.; Kulik, Veronika; and Goldstein, Allan L., "Prepared for special issue on thymosins Thymosin β4 and the anti-fibrotic switch" (2022). GW Authored Works. Paper 2051.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/2051

Department

Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine