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Thymopentin structure and relation to thymic factors

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Summary

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to evaluate the purity and batch-to-batch consistency of four commercially available thymic extracts and thymopentin, the synthetic pentapeptide corresponding to the biologically active region of the thymic hormone thymopoietin. The thymus extracts were all extremely heterogeneous, differing one from the other. Additionally, they showed high batch-to-batch variation. In contrast, thymopentin was homogeneous and this homogeneity was consistent in different batches.

Résumé

La Chromatographie à haute performance en phase liquide a été utilisée pour évaluer la pureté et la constance, d’un lot à l’autre, de quatre extraits thymiques et de thymopentine du commerce, un pentapeptide de synthèse correspondant à la région biologiquement active de l’hormone thymique qu’est la thy-mopoïétine. Les extraits thymiques se sont tous avérés hétérogènes, différant l’un de l’autre. La thymopentine en revanche s’est avérée homogène et cette homogénéité était constante d’un lot à un autre.

Zusammenfassung

Hochleistungsflüssigchromatographie (HPLC) wurde eingesetzt, um die Reinheit und chargenweise Konsistenz von vier im Handel erhältlichen Thymusextrakten einerseits und Thymopentin andererseits zu bewerten. Thymopentin ist ein synthetisches Pentapeptid, welches dem biologisch aktiven Bereich des Thymushormons Thymopoietin entspricht. Die Thymusextrakte waren alle extrem heterogen und unterscheiden sich voneinander. Außerdem variierten die einzelnen Chargen stark. Im Gegensatz dazu war Thymopentin homogen. Diese Homogenität war in den einzelnen untersuchten Chargen konsistent.

Riassunto

La cromatografia in fase liquida ad alto rendimento (HPLC) venne usata per valutare la purezza e la consistenza partita-partita di quattro estratti timici commercialmente disponibili e della timopentina, il pentapeptide sintetico che corrisponde alla regione biologicamente attiva dell’ormone timico timopoietina. GH estratti del timo erano tutti estremamente eterogenei, variando l’uno dall’altro. Dimostravano inoltre una grande variazione da una partita all’altra. In contrasto a ciò la timopentina era omogenea, tale omogeneità essendo costante nelle varie partite.

Resumen

Se utilizó la cromatografía líquida de alta eficacia (HPCL) para evaluar la pureza de la consistencia lote a lote de cuatro extractos timicos disponibles comercialmente y de la timopentina, el pentapéptido correspondiente a la region biológicamente activa de la hormona timica timopoietina. Todos los extractos de timo fueron sumamente heterogéneos y diferentes entre sí, presentando, además, una elevada variación de lote a lote. Por el contrario, la timopentina fue homogénea, siendo esta homogeneidad consistente en lotes diferentes.

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Heavner, G.A. Thymopentin structure and relation to thymic factors. Surv. immunol. Res. 4 (Suppl 1), 11–16 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02919051

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