Badamchian Mahnaz, Damavandy Ali A, Damavandy Hadi, Wadhwa Sonal D, Katz Barrett, Goldstein Allan L
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The George Washington University, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2300 Eye Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20037, USA.
Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2007 Sep;1112:458-65. doi: 10.1196/annals.1415.046. Epub 2007 Jun 28.
Thymosin beta(4) (Tbeta(4)) is a ubiquitous, naturally occurring, 43-amino acid peptide that takes part in several biological activities including angiogenesis, inhibition of inflammation, wound healing, chemotaxis, and endothelial cell migration. Recent studies also indicate that Tbeta(4) accelerates corneal wound healing and downregulates several proinflamatory chemokines and cytokines. In this study, we sought to determine whether Tbeta(4) is naturally occurring in human tears and other human bodily fluids, such as saliva. Tear and saliva samples were analyzed by EIA to identify and quantify the amount of Tbeta(4) present. Around 10-20 samples were collected from each of three different age groups: 15-20, 25-35, and >50 years old with n = 30 and n = 60 for tears and saliva, respectively. Exclusion criteria included the use of any topical ophthalmic or topical oral medication and/or history of ocular or oral surgery within the past 6 months. Tears were collected from both eyes using Schirmer's strips. Saliva samples were collected in sterile tubes and were then centrifuged to remove solid particles. Tbeta(4) was found in tear and saliva samples in all age groups. The concentrations ranged from 0.5-7 mug/mL in tears and 0.2-3.6 mug/mL in saliva. In both fluids, Tbeta(4) concentration varied with age and appeared to peak at ages 25-35 years. Studies are in progress to determine if Tbeta(4) levels in saliva and tears demonstrate a circadian rhythm during a 24-h period, as well as to confirm that they vary with age and to explore if they vary with diseased states. This is the first study to report the presence of Tbeta(4) in human tears and saliva. This finding raises the possibility that Tbeta(4) acts as an endogenous agent contributing to the rapid healing of corneal and oral wounds. Considering that Tbeta(4) facilitates reepithelialization and modulates anti-inflammatory mediators, Tbeta(4) could potentially be used therapeutically in the treatment of (a) ocular surface disease and injury of eye and (b) various oral disorders, such as periodontal disease.
胸腺素β4（Tβ4）是一种普遍存在的天然43个氨基酸的肽，参与多种生物学活性，包括血管生成、炎症抑制、伤口愈合、趋化作用和内皮细胞迁移。最近的研究还表明，Tβ4可加速角膜伤口愈合，并下调多种促炎趋化因子和细胞因子。在本研究中，我们试图确定Tβ4是否天然存在于人类眼泪和其他体液，如唾液中。通过酶免疫测定法（EIA）分析眼泪和唾液样本，以识别和量化其中Tβ4的含量。从三个不同年龄组（15 - 20岁、25 - 35岁和>50岁）中每组收集约10 - 20个样本，眼泪样本数量n = 30，唾液样本数量n = 60。排除标准包括在过去6个月内使用任何局部眼科或局部口服药物和/或有眼部或口腔手术史。使用泪液试纸从双眼收集眼泪。唾液样本收集在无菌试管中，然后离心以去除固体颗粒。在所有年龄组的眼泪和唾液样本中均发现了Tβ4。其浓度在眼泪中为0.5 - 7μg/mL，在唾液中为0.2 - 3.6μg/mL。在这两种体液中，Tβ4浓度随年龄变化，且在25 - 35岁时似乎达到峰值。目前正在进行研究，以确定唾液和眼泪中Tβ4水平在24小时内是否呈现昼夜节律，以及确认它们是否随年龄变化，并探索它们是否随疾病状态而变化。这是第一项报告人类眼泪和唾液中存在Tβ4的研究。这一发现增加了Tβ4作为内源性因子促进角膜和口腔伤口快速愈合的可能性。鉴于Tβ4促进上皮再形成并调节抗炎介质，Tβ4有可能用于治疗（a）眼表疾病和眼部损伤以及（b）各种口腔疾病，如牙周病。
