Thymosin β4 increases cardiac cell proliferation, cell engraftment, and the reparative potency of human induced-pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes in a porcine model of acute myocardial infarction.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Co-treatment with Tb4 microspheres and hiPSC-CMs significantly enhanced cell engraftment, vasculogenesis, cardiomyocyte proliferation, left ventricular function, and reduced infarct size in pigs after MI, with no arrhythmia or tumorigenesis.
Key Numbers
1.2×10⁸ hiPSC-CMs; 600 ng/mL Tb4; 2-week sustained release; improved LV function; reduced infarct size; enhanced engraftment and vasculogenesis; no arrhythmias; no tumors; AKT and BcL-XL upregulated
How They Did This
Randomized pig study. MI induced, then 4 groups: basal medium, Tb4 microspheres, hiPSC-CMs (1.2×10⁸), or both. Tb4 delivered via gelatin microspheres (sustained release ~2 weeks). Assessed by cardiac MRI, implanted loop recorders, and whole-body MRI for tumors.
Why This Research Matters
Heart attacks damage heart muscle irreversibly. Stem cell therapy has been disappointing due to poor cell survival. Tb4 could be the missing ingredient that makes cardiac stem cell therapy actually work.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Pig model, not humans. Relatively short follow-up. Immunosuppression was required for human-derived cells. The 1.2×10⁸ cell dose may not be directly translatable. Manufacturing complexity of both Tb4 microspheres and hiPSC-CMs is significant.
Trust & Context
- Original Title:
- Thymosin β4 increases cardiac cell proliferation, cell engraftment, and the reparative potency of human induced-pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes in a porcine model of acute myocardial infarction.
- Published In:
- Theranostics, 11(16), 7879-7895 (2021)
- Authors:
- Tan, Shi Hua, Loo, Sze Jie, Gao, Yu(3), Tao, Zhong Hao, Su, Li Ping, Wang, Chen Xu, Zhang, Sophia L, Mu, Yong Hui, Cui, Ying Hua, Abdurrachim, Desiree, Wang, Wei Hsin, Lalic, Janise, Lim, Kheng Choon, Bu, Jun, Tan, Ru San, Lee, Teck Hock, Zhang, Jianyi, Ye, Lei
- Database ID:
- RPEP-05804
Evidence Hierarchy
Tests effects in animals (usually mice or rats), not humans.
What do these levels mean? →Read More on RethinkPeptides
Cite This Study
https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/RPEP-05804APA
Tan, Shi Hua; Loo, Sze Jie; Gao, Yu; Tao, Zhong Hao; Su, Li Ping; Wang, Chen Xu; Zhang, Sophia L; Mu, Yong Hui; Cui, Ying Hua; Abdurrachim, Desiree; Wang, Wei Hsin; Lalic, Janise; Lim, Kheng Choon; Bu, Jun; Tan, Ru San; Lee, Teck Hock; Zhang, Jianyi; Ye, Lei. (2021). Thymosin β4 increases cardiac cell proliferation, cell engraftment, and the reparative potency of human induced-pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes in a porcine model of acute myocardial infarction.. Theranostics, 11(16), 7879-7895. https://doi.org/10.7150/thno.56757
MLA
Tan, Shi Hua, et al. "Thymosin β4 increases cardiac cell proliferation, cell engraftment, and the reparative potency of human induced-pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes in a porcine model of acute myocardial infarction.." Theranostics, 2021. https://doi.org/10.7150/thno.56757
RethinkPeptides
RethinkPeptides Research Database. "Thymosin β4 increases cardiac cell proliferation, cell engra..." RPEP-05804. Retrieved from https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/tan-2021-thymosin-4-increases-cardiac
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Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkPeptides research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.