Thymosin β4 Accelerates Wound Healing

• Published in: Journal of investigative dermatology Vol. 113; no. 3; pp. 364 - 368
• Main Authors: Malinda, Katherine M., Kleinman, Hynda K., Sidhu, Gurmel S., Mani, Haresh, Banaudha, Krishna, Maheshwari, Radha K., Goldstein, Allan L.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Danvers, MA Elsevier Inc 01.09.1999; Nature Publishing
• Subjects: angiogenesis; Biological and medical sciences; Dermatology; Medical sciences; migrations; reepithelialization; Skin involvement in other diseases. Miscellaneous. General aspects; thymic peptides; reepithelialization; migrations; thymic peptides; angiogenesis; Skin disease; Rat; Rodentia; Thymosin; Wound; Biological activity; Angiogenesis; Vertebrata; Experimental disease; Mammalia; Animal; Skin; Cicatrization; Pentapeptide
• ISSN: 0022-202X; 1523-1747
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1523-1747.1999.00708.x

Angiogenesis is an essential step in the repair process that occurs after injury. In this study, we investigated whether the angiogenic thymic peptide thymosin β4 (Tβ4) enhanced wound healing in a rat full thickness wound model. Addition of Tβ4 topically or intraperitoneally increased reepithelialization by 42% over saline controls at 4 d and by as much as 61% at 7 d post-wounding. Treated wounds also contracted at least 11% more than controls by day 7. Increased collagen deposition and angiogenesis were observed in the treated wounds. We also found that Tβ4 stimulated keratinocyte migration in the Boyden chamber assay. After 4–5 h, migration was stimulated 2–3-fold over migration with medium alone when as little as 10 pg of Tβ4 was added to the assay. These results suggest that Tβ4 is a potent wound healing factor with multiple activities that may be useful in the clinic.