Description
Thymopentin is a kind of peptide. Peptides and polypeptides play a critical role in the immune system and are therefore predestined as a source for new approaches in immunotherapy. Thymopentin is capable of modulating the immune response. It is a fragment of the thymopoietins (TMPOs) which is a family of nuclear protein. Studies have shown that Thymopentin is capable of affecting the function of T cells and monocytes monitored by increased cGMP level and the triggering of cellular signaling. It is also capable of improve an imbalanced immune system. As an immunomodulating agent, it is clinically used in the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as atopic dermatitis, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, Sezary’s syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis and decreased immune competency. Recent study has also shown that its immuno-modulating effect can also help fight against the infection of mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Chemical Properties
TP is a peptide extracted from calf thymus, and two similar types were found: thymopoietin-I (TP-I) and thymopoietin-II (TP-II).TP-II is a 49 peptide composed of 13 amino acids.The structural difference between TP-I and TP-II is the change of the filament 1 and Su 43 in the peptide chain of TP-II to the Glyc 1 and Group 43 in TP-I. The pentapeptide of Arginine 32-Casein 36 showed the T cell differentiation activity of TP-II both in vivo and ex vivo. 5 of the 49 amino acids are physiologically active. The pentapeptide of arginine 32-tyrosine 36 showed the T-cell differentiation activity of TP-II in vitro and in vivo. 5 out of 49 amino acids were physiologically active, and the pentapeptide of arginine 32-tyrosine valerian 5-peptide, thymopentin, has been synthesized artificially and used in the clinic. In addition, splenin isolated from bovine spleen is similar to TP-II, so it is called TP-III. 5 peptide of synthetic TP-II is tentatively called thymopentin (TPe), and 5 peptide of synthetic TP-III is tentatively called splenic synthesizing protein (SPe). TP-II and TPe act on the neuromuscular transmission to induce the differentiation of T-cell precursor cells in vitro, and inhibit the differentiation of B-cells. TP-III and SPe, on the other hand, induce differentiation of T and B cell precursor cells. Ubiquitin, composed of 74 amino acid residues, induces the differentiation of T and B cells, and is widely found in animal tissues (including thymus) and plant and fungal cells, and is related to immune function.
Originator
Janssen (Belgium)
Uses
Thymopentin Acetate (TP-5) is a synthetic immunomodulating pentapeptide.
Definition
ChEBI: Thymopentin is an oligopeptide.
brand name
SINTOMODULINA; TIMUNOX
Clinical Use
Thymopentin is a synthetic, immunomodulating pentapeptide, representing the
active fragment of the thymus hormone, thymopoietin. Thymopentin induces
phenotypic differentiation and maturation of T-cells. It appears of value in the
treatment of primary immune deficiency, rheumatoid arthritis, atopic dermatitis,
sarcoidosis and a variety of other diseases with manifestations of disturbed
immune balance.
Background
Thymopentin, also known as TP-5, is a synthetic pentapeptide which is the active site of the naturally occurring hormone thymopoietin with immunomodulating properties (corresponding to the amino acids 32-36 of thymopoietin). Thymopentin enhances the production of thymic T cells and may help restore immunocompetence in immunosuppressed subjects. This agent also augments the effects of ionizing radiation by arresting cancer cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle.
References
Zhang, Yan, et al. "Novel thymopentin release systems prepared from bioresorbable PLA–PEG–PLA hydrogels." International journal of pharmaceutics 386.1 (2010): 15-22.
Gonser, S., E. Weber, and G. Folkers. "Peptides and polypeptides as modulators of the immune response: thymopentin—an example with unknown mode of action." Pharmaceutica Acta Helvetiae 73.6 (1999): 265-273.
Wang, Ying, et al. "Synthetic modifications of the immunomodulating peptide thymopentin to confer anti-mycobacterial activity." Biomaterials 35.9 (2014): 3102-3109.
