Key result
Thymosin β4 improves neurological function ~30% in young rats but only reduces infarcts in aged rats.
Why the study?
Does Thymosin β4 provide neurorestorative or neuroprotective benefits in preclinical models of acute stroke?
Does Thymosin β4 provide neurorestorative or neuroprotective benefits in preclinical models of acute stroke?
Thymosin β4 shows promise as a neurorestorative and neuroprotective agent in preclinical stroke models, but requires further testing in more diverse models with comorbidities.
Thymosin β4 shows age-dependent effects in rat stroke models; leaves open translation and requires testing in comorbid models before trials.
INTRODUCTION: Thymosin β4 (Tβ4) is a 5K peptide which influences cellular migration by inhibiting organization of the actin-cytoskeleton. Treatment of acute stroke presently involves use of rt-PA and/or endovascular treatment with thrombectomy, both of which have time limitations. Therefore, development of a treatment beyond these times is necessary as most stroke patients present beyond these time limits. A drug which could be administered within 24 h from symptom onset would provide substantial benefit. AREAS COVERED: This review summarizes the data and results of two in-vivo studies testing Tβ4 in an embolic stroke model of young and aged rats. In addition, we describe in-vitro investigations of the neurorestorative and neuroprotective properties of Tβ4 in a variety of neuroprogenitor and oligoprogenitor cell models. EXPERT OPINION: Tβ4 acts as a neurorestorative agent when employed in a young male rat model of embolic stroke while in an aged model it acts a neuroprotectant. However evaluation of Tβ4 as a treatment of stroke requires further preclinical evaluation in females and in males and females with comorbidities such as, hypertension and diabetes in models of embolic stroke to further define the mechanism of action and potential as a treatment of stroke in humans.
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Morris et al. (2018) conducted a review in Acute embolic stroke. Thymosin β4 (Tβ4) vs. Control was evaluated on Neurological functional outcome (ART, mNSS, FFT) and infarct volume (p=<0.05). Thymosin β4 (12 mg/kg) improved neurological function by 26.0% to 35.5% (p<0.05) without reducing infarct volume in young rats, while reducing infarct volume by 50% without functional gain in aged rats.
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