THYMOSIN ALPHA-1 - EVIDENCE FOR AN ANTIATHEROGENIC EFFECT

Citation
E. Ademoglu et al., THYMOSIN ALPHA-1 - EVIDENCE FOR AN ANTIATHEROGENIC EFFECT, Annals of nutrition & metabolism, 42(5), 1998, pp. 283-289
Citations number
32
Categorie Soggetti
Nutrition & Dietetics","Endocrynology & Metabolism
ISSN journal
02506807
Volume
42
Issue
5
Year of publication
1998
Pages
283 - 289
Database
ISI
SICI code
0250-6807(1998)42:5<283:TA-EFA>2.0.ZU;2-Q
Abstract
In the present study, the effects of thymosin alpha(1) on lipid peroxi dation were studied in an in vivo model of experimental hypercholester olemia. In groups II-IV, rabbits were fed a high-cholesterol diet 2% ( w/w) for 10 weeks. Thereafter, rabbits in group III were fed a normal diet for another 14 days and those in group IV were given a normal die t plus 25 mu g/kg thymosin alpha(1) intraperitoneally every other day for the same period. At the end of this period, plasma and erythrocyte lipid levels and susceptibility of erythrocytes to lipid peroxidation were determined in all groups. Hypercholesterolemic rabbits had high plasma and erythrocyte lipid peroxide (TBARS) levels compared to contr ol animals fed a normal diet. Plasma and erythrocyte TEARS levels sign ificantly decreased in the thymosin-alpha 1-injected rabbits. In thymo sin-alpha(1)-treated animals (group IV), most of the lipid plaques wer e replaced by fibrous tissue. These findings suggest that thymosin alp ha(1) may have some beneficial effects on the treatment of atheroscler osis by normalizing blood lipid levels and by substantially protecting endothelial cells against free radical injury.