Everything below concerns Immune modulation. We keep the language plain, cite what the science says, and separate well-supported claims from open questions.
Last reviewed on 2026-05-24. Where a claim depends on a specific study, the study is described rather than over-claimed.
The peptide was identified during work in the 1970s on thymosin fraction 5, a partially purified extract of calf thymus. Investigators separated that mixture and characterized individual components, one of which they named thymosin alpha-1. The same compound later received the international nonproprietary name thymalfasin. Commercial material is produced by solid-phase peptide synthesis rather than by extraction, so synthetic and natural forms share an identical sequence. Naming conventions vary across the literature, and readers should distinguish the alpha-1 peptide from other thymosins that have unrelated sequences and functions.
Thymosin beta-4 is a separate 43-residue peptide that binds actin and participates in cell migration; it shares no sequence similarity with thymosin alpha-1 despite the common family name. Other preparative materials, such as thymosin fraction 5 and thymopoietin, contain distinct mixtures or peptides. The shared thymosin label reflects the tissue of origin used in early purification, not a common structural core. Treating these molecules as interchangeable is a frequent source of confusion in laboratory reports and in popular summaries alike.
Thymosin alpha-1 is a synthetic peptide of 28 amino acids whose sequence matches the amino-terminal region of prothymosin alpha. The chain is acetylated at its first residue and contains one disulfide bridge between two cysteine residues, which folds the molecule into a compact loop. Its molecular formula, C129H215N33O55, corresponds to a monoisotopic mass of roughly 3,106 daltons. Material used in laboratories is made by solid-phase synthesis rather than isolated from animal tissue.
Early work on thymic extracts in the 1960s described a heat-stable acidic fraction containing many polypeptides. Separation of that mixture yielded individual components, and thymosin alpha-1 was named as one of them on the basis of assays for T-cell activity. The first preparations came from calf thymus, while subsequent research and clinical material has been chemically synthesized. Nomenclature in older papers is inconsistent, and the same peptide sometimes appears under different designations, which complicates literature searches.
Most published studies on thymosin alpha-1 report changes in immune measurements rather than clinical outcomes, and findings differ across designs and populations. Whether the peptide signals through one defined receptor or through several less specific interactions remains an open question. Its reported circulation half-life of a few hours complicates comparison of dosing schedules across trials. Mechanistic claims are frequently drawn from isolated cell cultures, and how far those results extend to whole organisms is unresolved.
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Molecular mass | About 3.1 kDa | 28 residues, N-terminally acetylated |
| Appearance | White to off-white powder | Lyophilized solid |
| Solubility | Freely soluble in water | Also soluble in aqueous buffers |
| Storage temperature | 2 to 8 °C | Protect from light and moisture |
| Common synonyms | Thymalfasin; Tα1 | Same peptide sequence |
Thymosin alpha-1 is a synthetic peptide of 28 amino acids, corresponding to the N-terminal fragment of prothymosin alpha. Its sequence begins with acetylation at the N-terminus, a modification that affects stability and receptor interaction. The peptide is acidic, with a calculated isoelectric point near 4.2, and carries no disulfide bonds, so its secondary structure is largely flexible in solution. Molecular mass is approximately 3108 daltons. The native form was first isolated from bovine thymus tissue, while pharmaceutical material is produced by solid-phase peptide synthesis.
Within the immune system, the peptide acts on several cell types rather than a single target. Reported activities include promotion of T-cell maturation, enhancement of natural killer cell activity, and modulation of cytokine production by dendritic cells and macrophages. Some of these effects appear to operate through toll-like receptor signaling, though the precise receptor-level mechanism remains debated. Whether the observed immune changes translate into clinical benefit is a separate question and depends on the indication studied.
The peptide was described in the 1970s as a component of thymic extracts, and early research focused on restoring immune function in immunodeficiency states. A synthetic version entered clinical development in the 1980s and is approved as a drug in several countries for conditions such as chronic hepatitis B and certain immunodeficiencies. Approval status varies widely by jurisdiction, and in the United States it is not an approved therapeutic. Regulatory and clinical positions differ, so statements about efficacy should be tied to specific indications and studies.
Immune signaling studies link thymosin alpha 1 to Toll-like receptor pathways, particularly TLR2 and TLR9, on dendritic cells and other antigen-presenting cells. Activation of these receptors promotes maturation of T cells and increases natural killer cell activity. The peptide shifts cytokine output toward a T helper 1 profile, raising interferon gamma and interleukin 2 while modulating interleukin 10. Whether these effects translate into clinical benefit for any specific disease remains a subject of debate. Reported outcomes vary across trials and populations.
Thymosin alpha 1 is approved as a medicine in several countries, including Italy and China, for indications such as chronic hepatitis B and as an immune adjuvant. It is not approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration as a therapeutic product. In research settings the peptide appears in studies of sepsis, vaccine response, and oncology support, often with mixed or inconclusive results. The evidence base is uneven, and reviews note that many trials were small. Regulatory status therefore differs widely between jurisdictions.
==== Iron import ==== Most cell types take up iron primarily through receptor-mediated endocytosis via transferrin receptor 1 (TFR1), transferrin receptor 2 (TFR2) and GAPDH. TFR1 has a 30-fold higher affinity for transferrin-bound iron than TFR2 and thus is the main player in this process. The higher order multifunctional glycolytic enzyme glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) also acts as a transferrin receptor. Transferrin-bound ferric iron is recognized by these transferrin receptors, triggering a conformational change that causes endocytosis. Iron then enters the cytoplasm from the endosome via importer DMT1 after being reduced to its ferrous state by a STEAP family reductase. Alternatively, iron can enter the cell directly via plasma membrane divalent cation importers such as DMT1 and ZIP14 (Zrt-Irt-like protein 14). Again, iron enters the cytoplasm in the ferrous state after being reduced in the extracellular space by a reductase such as STEAP2, STEAP3 (in red blood cells), Dcytb (in enterocytes) and SDR2.
Briton Callum Tindal-Draper is killed while fighting with the 4th International Legion in Ukraine. 6 November – At Newcastle Crown Court, former GP Thomas Kwan is sentenced to 31 years in prison after posing as a community nurse to inject his mother's partner with a substance that caused him to contract a flesh eating disease following a row over inheritance. 7 November The Bank of England cuts the UK interest rate by 0.25% to 4.75%, but indicates further cuts may take longer than previously thought following the October budget, which it forecasts will lead to price increases. Argentinian authorities announce that three people have been charged in connection with the death of One Direction's Liam Payne. A report into more than 100 allegations of sexual abuse against barrister John Smyth QC, who died in 2018, finds his activities were covered up by the Church of England for several decades. Smyth used his home as a Christian summer camp during the 1970s and 1980s, when the abuse of boys and young men is thought to have happened. The Football Association opens a safeguarding inquiry into a Premiership club official following sexual allegations made by three women. The charity organisation Care England estimates that as a result of the increase in employers' National Insurance contributions and the national minimum wage in the recent budget, that the cost of providing care will increase by over £3,000 per person and that the increases are expected to be passed on to care home residents and their relatives.
In 2010, the Ghent nosology was revised, and new diagnostic criteria superseded the previous agreement made in 1996. The seven new criteria can lead to a diagnosis: In the absence of a family history of MFS:
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
==== Benign soft tissue neoplasms ==== Peripheral nerve sheath tumours: These most commonly are traumatic neuromas, a reactive response to trauma, neurilemmoma and neurofibroma which are large growing painless tumours usually found on the tongue. Neurofibroma may occur as a benign solitary lesion but can present as multiple lesions associated with (Von Reckllinghausen's Disease) neurofibromatosis. They can be preceded by café au lait pigmentation spots on the skin, and as they grow can become very disfiguring. Malignant change can occur in neurofibromatosis but very rarely in single lesion presentation. Mucosal neuromas can be associated with other conditions such as multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) syndrome and may precede thyroid cancer. Lipoma and fibrolipoma: These are tumours of adipose tissue, or fat, giving them a yellow appearance which varies according to fat content. They are usually soft, mobile, slow growing painless and occur mostly in middle age or the elderly. Granular cell tumour: These are also tumours arising from neural cells, though it was incorrectly thought to arise from muscle cells and therefore previously called granular cell myoblastoma. It also is slow growing large painless and occurs mostly in the tongue. Congenital epulis: These are also known as congenital granular cell tumours (but not related to granular cell tumours), and occur mostly on the upper gum, the maxillary alveolar ridge, of newborns, predominantly females. Rarely, they occur elsewhere, usually the tongue. They are usually self-resolving.
Whey protein concentrates (WPC) have typically low - though not absent - levels of fat and cholesterol. They also contain carbohydrates in the form of lactose. Whey protein isolates (WPI) are processed to remove fat and lactose, and as a result, WPI powders are typically over 90% protein by dry weight. Like WPC, WPI are mild and slightly milky in taste. Whey protein hydrolysates (WPH) are whey proteins that are predigested and partially hydrolyzed for the purpose of easier metabolizing. Their cost is generally higher than WPC and WPI. Highly hydrolysed whey may be less allergenic than other forms of whey, due to its smaller peptide chains. For this reason it is a common constituent in hypoallergenic baby milk formulas and medical foods. Native whey protein is extracted from skim milk, rather than being collected as a byproduct of cheese production. This type of whey does not contain glycomacropeptide, which is formed only after the addition of rennet. There is evidence that whey protein is more bio-available than casein or soy protein. Whey protein is commonly marketed as a dietary supplement, typically sold in powdered form for mixing into beverages. Whey protein is also often used as a thickener to improve texture and decrease syneresis in yogurt. Greek Yogurt, which increased in popularity in the early twenty‐first century, is typically high in protein.
Epidermolysis bullosa dystrophica or dystrophic EB (DEB) is an inherited disease affecting the skin and other organs. "Butterfly child" is the colloquial name for children born with the disease, as their skin is seen to be as delicate and fragile as the wings of a butterfly.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Annie-Laurie Ala von Auersperg (born 1958), co-founder of the National Center for Victims of Crime, who married financier Ralph H. Isham, son of diplomat Heyward Isham. Alexander Georg von Auersperg (born 1959), co-founder of the National Center for Victims of Crime, who married investment banker Nancy Louise Weinberg. The Auerspergs were divorced in 1965. At that time, Sunny's net worth was over $75 million. Alfred Auersperg died in 1992 after lingering in an irreversible coma for nine years following a 1983 car accident in Austria. On June 6, 1966, Sunny married Claus von Bülow, a former aide to oilman J. P. Getty, at the Brick Presbyterian Church in New York City. His maternal grandfather, whose surname he took, was Frits Toxwerdt von Bülow, Justice Minister of Denmark in the government of Klaus Berntsen (1910–1913) and also came from a noble background. Together, they had a daughter:
=== Acute exposures === In case reports of humans intentionally or accidentally ingesting high concentrations of copper salts (doses usually not known but reported to be 20–70 grams of copper), a progression of symptoms was observed including abdominal pain, headache, nausea, dizziness, vomiting and diarrhea, tachycardia, respiratory difficulty, hemolytic anemia, hematuria, massive gastrointestinal bleeding, liver and kidney failure, and death. Episodes of acute gastrointestinal upset following single or repeated ingestion of drinking water containing elevated levels of copper (generally above 3–6 mg/L) are characterized by nausea, vomiting, and stomach irritation. These symptoms resolve when copper in the drinking water source is reduced. Three experimental studies were conducted that demonstrate a threshold for acute gastrointestinal upset of approximately 4–5 mg/L in healthy adults, although it is not clear from these findings whether symptoms are due to acutely irritant effects of copper and/or to metallic, bitter, salty taste. In an experimental study with healthy adults, the average taste threshold for copper sulfate and chloride in tap water, deionized water, or mineral water was 2.5–3.5 mg/L. This is just below the experimental threshold for acute gastrointestinal upset.
== See also == Outline of the Yemeni crisis, revolution, and civil war (2011–present) South Yemen insurgency COVID-19 pandemic in Yemen Yemen cholera outbreak Health in Yemen Famine in Yemen (2016-present)
=== Ovulation === NGF is abundant in seminal plasma. Recent studies have found that it induces ovulation in some mammals e.g. "induced" ovulators, such as llamas. Surprisingly, research showed that these induced animals will also ovulate when semen from on-schedule or "spontaneous" ovulators, such as cattle is used. Its significance in humans is unknown. It was previously dubbed ovulation-inducing factor (OIF) in semen before it was identified as beta-NGF in 2012.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
It is a 28-residue synthetic peptide studied as an immune-modulating agent and approved as a drug in some countries. The sequence matches a naturally occurring fragment isolated from thymus tissue. It is not a hormone in the endocrine sense.
The name traces back to thymosin fraction 5, a crude thymus extract examined in the 1970s. Individual peptides in that mixture were labeled with Greek letters, and alpha-1 was one of them. The international nonproprietary name thymalfasin was assigned later.
No. Thymosin beta-4 contains 43 residues and binds actin, while thymosin alpha-1 contains 28 residues and acts on immune cells. The two sit in a historical naming group but share no sequence similarity, and they are not substitutes for one another.
Its sequence corresponds to the amino-terminal portion of prothymosin alpha, a larger protein present in many cell types. The isolated 28-residue peptide is a fragment of that protein rather than a separately encoded molecule, and laboratory material is produced by synthesis.