Suh B Y, Naylor P H, Goldstein A L, Rebar R W
Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1985 Feb 15;151(4):544-9. doi: 10.1016/0002-9378(85)90286-8.
The endocrine thymus produces several hormone-like peptides (generically termed thymosins) which control development of the thymic-dependent lymphoid system and participate in the process of immune regulation. In addition, recent literature supports the hypothesis that gonadal steroids in general and estrogens in particular affect the immune system. To determine whether steroid hormones modulate secretion of thymic peptides, basal concentrations of thymosins alpha 1 and beta 4 were determined by radioimmunoassay in morning blood samples from 87 women in various clinical states. Basal concentrations of thymosin alpha 1 were similar in all women sampled. Basal levels of thymosin beta 4 were similar in normal women during the early follicular phase, women with premature ovarian failure, postmenopausal women not receiving estrogen, and individuals with gonadal dysgenesis. However, the marked variability of basal levels in premature ovarian failure and in postmenopausal women suggests that these groups are quite heterogeneous. Thymosin beta 4 concentrations were reduced in castrated women not receiving estrogen and were decreased more in both postmenopausal women and castrated women who were on chronic estrogen therapy. These data suggest that estrogens can modulate the circulating levels of thymosin beta 4 but not of thymosin alpha 1. We do not yet know whether sex steroids modulate secretion of other thymic peptides.
内分泌胸腺产生几种激素样肽（统称为胸腺素），这些肽控制胸腺依赖性淋巴系统的发育并参与免疫调节过程。此外，最近的文献支持这样一种假说，即一般的性腺类固醇，尤其是雌激素，会影响免疫系统。为了确定类固醇激素是否调节胸腺肽的分泌，通过放射免疫分析法测定了87名处于不同临床状态的女性早晨血样中胸腺素α1和β4的基础浓度。所有采样女性的胸腺素α1基础浓度相似。在卵泡早期的正常女性、卵巢早衰女性、未接受雌激素治疗的绝经后女性以及性腺发育不全个体中，胸腺素β4的基础水平相似。然而，卵巢早衰女性和绝经后女性基础水平的显著变异性表明这些群体相当异质。未接受雌激素治疗的去势女性的胸腺素β4浓度降低，而接受慢性雌激素治疗的绝经后女性和去势女性的浓度降低得更多。这些数据表明，雌激素可以调节胸腺素β4的循环水平，但不能调节胸腺素α1的循环水平。我们尚不知道性类固醇是否调节其他胸腺肽的分泌。
