Aging comes with a variety of morphological and physiological changes. One of the evident aging-associated changes inside the human body is the occurrence of chronic low-grade inflammation, now known as inflammaging. This process is linked with chronic illnesses in the elderly like neurodegenerative disorders, heart disease, cancer, and many more. Scientists around the world are trying to regulate this process of inflammaging to reverse its effects. Investigators at Keck School of Medicine of USC, identified a peptide hormone called thymulin for its role in aging-associated inflammation.
Thymulin is a thymus-derived peptide hormone that requires zinc for its bioactivity. This hormone is highly influenced by the neuro-endocrine system and is required for T-cell maturation in the thymus gland. The thymus is located in the upper part of the mediastinum and is a major lymphoid organ in our body. In contrast to many other human organs, the thymus reaches its full maturity inside the uterus, and once puberty is achieved, its size and activity decrease. It is an important site for both production and maturation of T cells.
The decrease in thymulin causes inflammation to increase and a further increase in cancer tendency. This study in pre-clinical models like mice has proved that if the thymulin level is increased in older mice, they demonstrate an obvious increase in cancer survival as well as a better response to immunotherapy. This research emphasizes the role of thymulin in reversing age-related inflammaging and improves the outcome of cancer immunotherapy.
Though the research is still in its infancy and is required to be checked in other cancer pre-clinical models, the results are interesting.
Once the role of thymulin is explored completely in inflammaging-related diseases, it would certainly open the window for treatment of many aging-related diseases.
Do you think that by the use of synthetic thymulin as a medicine, all aging-related diseases could be treated?
MBH/PS