Immunotherapy: A New Frontier in Treating Chronic Diseases
Chronic immune diseases have long impacted the physical and mental health of countless individuals. With the launch of the "Healthy China 2030" initiative, medical treatment has shifted from a "disease-centered" approach to a more "patient-centered" model. In fields such as oncology, liver disease, and infectious diseases, immunotherapy has emerged as a significant advancement, complementing traditional treatments like radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy. Among these, non-specific immunotherapy drugs are gaining increasing recognition.
The Role of Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy harnesses the body's immune system to enhance its ability to fight off pathogens, including bacteria and cancer cells. By stimulating the production of immune cells, this innovative treatment strengthens the body's defenses and promotes overall health.
Thymopentin: A Key Player in Immunotherapy
Several immunotherapeutic agents have been approved in China, including immunomodulators like thymopentin for injection. Composed of five amino acids—arginine, lysine, aspartic acid, valine, and tyrosine—thymopentin is a potent fragment of thymogenin II, a peptide derived from thymic hormones. It mimics the physiological effects of thymogenin II, positioning itself as a powerful tool in immunotherapy.
Mechanism of Action
Produced by Chengdu Shengnuo Biopharmaceutical, thymopentin for injection exhibits a dual regulatory effect on the immune system. It promotes the maturation of T lymphocytes upon mitogen activation and increases T cell secretion in response to various antigens and lymphokines (such as α, γ interferon, IL-2, and IL-3). Additionally, thymopentin enhances the level of lymphokine receptors on T cells.
Thymopentin also boosts lymphocyte responses by activating T4 helper cells and may influence the chemotaxis of NK precursor cells, enhancing their cytotoxicity following exposure to interferon.
Clinical Applications
Thymopentin for injection is indicated for various conditions, including:
Chronic Hepatitis B
Primary and Secondary T-cell Deficiencies (e.g., congenital immunodeficiency in children)
Additionally, thymopentin serves as an effective adjuvant therapy for tumors, enhancing overall treatment outcomes.
Unique Properties of Thymopentin
One of the most notable characteristics of thymopentin is its short half-life—approximately 1 minute in vivo. Despite this rapid degradation, it induces prolonged immune regulation. Studies indicate that thymopentin is swiftly broken down by proteases and aminopeptidases in human plasma, with a half-life of about 30 seconds. However, it remains active in the abdominal cavity for up to 3.5-7 minutes and retains 25% of its activity in saliva after 10 minutes.
This unique biological behavior means that a high plasma concentration of thymopentin is unnecessary to achieve effective immune modulation. Consequently, thymopentin is well-suited for long-term and chronic disease management.
Conclusion
As immunotherapy advances, thymopentin stands out as a promising therapeutic option for chronic and autoimmune diseases. Its ability to modulate the immune system effectively, even with a short half-life, makes it a valuable addition to contemporary medical treatments.
Immunotherapy: A New Frontier in Treating Chronic Diseases
Immune diseases have long plagued the physical and mental health of many individuals. With the development of the "Healthy China 2030" initiative, the focus of medical treatment has shifted from being "disease-centered" to "patient-centered." In areas such as oncology, liver disease, and infection, immunotherapy has emerged as a significant advancement, complementing traditional radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy. Among these, non-specific immunotherapy drugs are gaining increasing attention.
The Role of Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy works by stimulating the body's immune system to produce a large number of immune cells, enhancing their ability to phagocytize bacteria, cancer cells, and other pathogens. This process effectively strengthens the body's defenses and promotes overall health.
Thymopentin: A Key Player in Immunotherapy
Currently, several immunodrugs have been approved in China, including immunomodulators like thymopentin for injection. Thymopentin is composed of five amino acids: arginine, lysine, aspartic acid, valine, and tyrosine. It is a potent segment of thymogenin II, a single peptide compound derived from thymic hormones. Thymopentin mimics the physiological functions of thymogenin II, making it a powerful tool in immunotherapy.
Mechanism of Action
Thymopentin for injection, produced by Chengdu Shengnuo Biopharmaceutical, has a dual regulatory effect on the immune system. It promotes the maturation of T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood upon mitogen activation and increases the secretion of T cells in response to various antigens or lymphokines (such as α, γ interferon, IL-2, and IL-3). Additionally, it enhances the level of lymphokine receptors on T cells.
Moreover, thymopentin boosts lymphocyte responses by activating T4 helper cells. It may also influence the chemotaxis of NK precursor cells, increasing their cytotoxicity after exposure to interferon.
Clinical Applications
Thymopentin for injection is suitable for treating chronic hepatitis B and various primary or secondary T-cell deficiencies (such as congenital immunodeficiency in children). It is effective for autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, childhood asthma, and asthmatic bronchitis. Furthermore, thymopentin is beneficial in conditions with low cellular immune function, such as viral hepatitis, upper respiratory tract infections, and persistent oral ulcers. It also serves as an adjuvant therapy for tumors.
Unique Properties of Thymopentin
One notable characteristic of thymopentin is its short half-life—approximately 1 minute in vivo. Despite this, it can induce prolonged immune regulation. Studies have shown that thymopentin is rapidly degraded by protease and aminopeptidase in human plasma, with a half-life of about 30 seconds. However, it remains longer in the abdominal cavity (up to 3.5-7 minutes) and retains 25% of its activity in saliva after 10 minutes.
This unique biological effect means that the body does not need to maintain a high plasma concentration of thymopentin to achieve immune regulation. Thus, thymopentin is an effective adjuvant therapy for long-term and chronic diseases.
Conclusion
As immunotherapy continues to advance, thymopentin represents a promising therapeutic option, offering significant benefits in treating chronic and autoimmune diseases. Its ability to modulate the immune system effectively, despite its short half-life, makes it a valuable addition to modern medical treatments.
Recombinant Protein 
