Biomaterial Database

Bioactive Thymosin Alpha-1 Does Not Influence F508del-CFTR Maturation and Activity. 2019

Andrea Armirotti, and Valeria Tomati, and Elizabeth Matthes, and Guido Veit, and Deborah M Cholon, and Puay-Wah Phuan, and Clarissa Braccia, and Daniela Guidone, and Martina Gentzsch, and Gergely L Lukacs, and Alan S Verkman, and Luis J V Galietta, and John W Hanrahan, and Nicoletta Pedemonte

Analytical Chemistry and In-vivo Pharmacology Facility, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, 16163, Genova, Italy.

Deletion of phenylalanine 508 (F508del) in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) anion channel is the most frequent mutation causing cystic fibrosis (CF). F508del-CFTR is misfolded and prematurely degraded. Recently thymosin a-1 (Tα-1) was proposed as a single molecule-based therapy for CF, improving both F508del-CFTR maturation and function by restoring defective autophagy. However, three independent laboratories failed to reproduce these results. Lack of reproducibility has been ascribed by the authors of the original paper to the use of DMSO and to improper handling. Here, we address these potential issues by demonstrating that Tα-1 changes induced by DMSO are fully reversible and that Tα-1 peptides prepared from different stock solutions have equivalent biological activity. Considering the negative results here reported, six independent laboratories failed to demonstrate F508del-CFTR correction by Tα-1. This study also calls into question the autophagy modulator cysteamine, since no rescue of mutant CFTR function was detected following treatment with cysteamine, while deleterious effects were observed when bronchial epithelia were exposed to cysteamine plus the antioxidant food supplement EGCG. Although these studies do not exclude the possibility of beneficial immunomodulatory effects of thymosin α-1, they do not support its utility as a corrector of F508del-CFTR.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D002478	Cells, Cultured	Cells propagated in vitro in special media conducive to their growth. Cultured cells are used to study developmental, morphologic, metabolic, physiologic, and genetic processes, among others.	Cultured Cells,Cell, Cultured,Cultured Cell
D003550	Cystic Fibrosis	An autosomal recessive genetic disease of the EXOCRINE GLANDS. It is caused by mutations in the gene encoding the CYSTIC FIBROSIS TRANSMEMBRANE CONDUCTANCE REGULATOR expressed in several organs including the LUNG, the PANCREAS, the BILIARY SYSTEM, and the SWEAT GLANDS. Cystic fibrosis is characterized by epithelial secretory dysfunction associated with ductal obstruction resulting in AIRWAY OBSTRUCTION; chronic RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS; PANCREATIC INSUFFICIENCY; maldigestion; salt depletion; and HEAT PROSTRATION.	Mucoviscidosis,Cystic Fibrosis of Pancreas,Fibrocystic Disease of Pancreas,Pancreatic Cystic Fibrosis,Pulmonary Cystic Fibrosis,Cystic Fibrosis, Pancreatic,Cystic Fibrosis, Pulmonary,Fibrosis, Cystic,Pancreas Fibrocystic Disease,Pancreas Fibrocystic Diseases
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000077596	Thymalfasin	A thymus hormone polypeptide found in thymosin fraction 5 (a crude thymus gland extract) but now produced by synthesis. It is used alone or with interferon as an immunomodulator for the treatment of CHRONIC HEPATITIS B and HEPATITIS C. Thymalfasin is also used for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced immunosuppression, and to enhance the efficacy of influenza and hepatitis B vaccines in immunocompromised patients.	Thymosin alpha(1),Thymosin alpha1,Zadaxin,alpha1-Thymosin,alpha1 Thymosin
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001343	Autophagy	The segregation and degradation of various cytoplasmic constituents via engulfment by MULTIVESICULAR BODIES; VACUOLES; or AUTOPHAGOSOMES and their digestion by LYSOSOMES. It plays an important role in BIOLOGICAL METAMORPHOSIS and in the removal of bone by OSTEOCLASTS. Defective autophagy is associated with various diseases, including NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES and cancer.	Autophagocytosis,ER-Phagy,Lipophagy,Nucleophagy,Reticulophagy,Ribophagy,Autophagy, Cellular,Cellular Autophagy,ER Phagy
D017384	Sequence Deletion	Deletion of sequences of nucleic acids from the genetic material of an individual.	Deletion Mutation,Deletion Mutations,Deletion, Sequence,Deletions, Sequence,Mutation, Deletion,Mutations, Deletion,Sequence Deletions
D061251	Primary Cell Culture	The initial culturing of cells derived directly from fresh TISSUES.	Cell Culture, Primary,Cell Cultures, Primary,Primary Cell Cultures
D061986	MCF-7 Cells	An estrogen responsive cell line derived from a patient with metastatic human breast ADENOCARCINOMA (at the Michigan Cancer Foundation.)	MCF7 Cells,Michigan Cancer Foundation 7 Cells,Cell, MCF-7,Cell, MCF7,Cells, MCF-7,Cells, MCF7,MCF 7 Cells,MCF-7 Cell,MCF7 Cell
D019005	Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator	A chloride channel that regulates secretion in many exocrine tissues. Abnormalities in the CFTR gene have been shown to cause cystic fibrosis. (Hum Genet 1994;93(4):364-8)	CFTR Protein,Chloride channels, ATP-gated CFTR,Chloride channels, ATP gated CFTR,Protein, CFTR