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Modulation of natural killer activity by thymosin alpha 1 and interferon

Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy volume 20, pages 189–192 (1985)Cite this article

Summary

A single injection of αβ-interferon (αβ-IFN) (30 000 units/mouse), a major biological modifier of natural killer (NK) cytolytic activity, strongly stimulated NK activity in normal mice, as expected, while the same treatment did not statistically alter the NK response in cyclophosphamide (CY)-suppressed animals.

We investigated the possibility of thymosin α1 cooperating with αβ-IFN in boosting NK activity in CY-suppressed animals.

The results show that treatment with thymosin α1 (200 μg/kg) for 4 days, followed by a single injection of αβ-IFN 24 h before testing, strongly restored NK activity in CY-suppressed mice. Thymosin α1 was, moreover, able to accelerate the recovery rate of NK activity in bone marrow reconstituted murine chimeras.

Taken together the data support the concept that the synergic effect between thymosin α1 and αβ-IFN could be the result of effects on differentiation of the NK lineage at different levels.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, II University of Rome, via Orazio Raimondo I-00173, Rome, Italy

    Cartesio Favalli, Teresa Jezzi, Antonio Mastino & Enrico Garaci

  2. Institute of General Pathology, University of Rome, Rome, Italy

    Cristina Rinaldi-Garaci

  3. Institute of Pharmacology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy

    Carlo Riccardi

Authors
  1. Cartesio Favalli
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  2. Teresa Jezzi
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  3. Antonio Mastino
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  4. Cristina Rinaldi-Garaci
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  5. Carlo Riccardi
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  6. Enrico Garaci
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Favalli, C., Jezzi, T., Mastino, A. et al. Modulation of natural killer activity by thymosin alpha 1 and interferon. Cancer Immunol Immunother 20, 189–192 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00205574

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00205574

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