Immunomodulatory function of orally administered thymosin alpha1 / 浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the immunological function of a yeast expression system for thymosin alpha1 (Talpha1).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A constructed Talpha1 yeast expression system was used to investigate the immunological function of orally administered Talpha1. Dried yeast containing three different concentration of Talpha1 was fed to normal Balb/c mice and other Balb/c mice whose immunities were inhibited in advance by cyclophosphamide. Synthesized Talpha1 peptide was used as positive control and dried yeast with empty plasmid was used as negative control. CD4(+) and CD8(+) levels were detected by flow cytometry assay. TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-6 and IL-10 levels were detected by liquid chip.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In normal Balb/c mice or immune inhibition Balb/c mice, CD8(+) levels were significantly increased. Especially in immune inhibition Balb/c mice, CD8(+) levels in synthesized Talpha1 group (18.77%+/-4.72%), small dose group (13.48%+/-6.17%) and large dose group (22.74%+/-1.09%) were significantly higher than that in empty yeast control group (7.49%+/-2.14%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Orally administered Talpha1 has its certain immunomodulatory function.</p>