Thymosin β4 ELISA

The beta-thymosins are a family of highly conserved polar 5kDa peptides originally
thought to be thymus hormones. Further studies demonstrated that beta-thymosins
are ubiquitous; they have been found in a variety of tissues and cell lines. The highest
concentrations have been detected in spleen, thymus, lung, and peritoneal macrophages.

Thymosin β4
binds monomeric actin in a 1:1 complex acting as an actin buffer, preventing
polymerization into actin filaments but supplying a pool of actin monomers
when needed by the cell. Changes in the expression of thymosin β4
appear to be
related to the differentiation of cells. Thymosin β4
is detected outside of cells in blood
plasma and wound fluid. Several biological effects are attributed to Thymosin β4
, like
induction of metallo-proteinases, chemotaxis, angiogenesis and inhibition of inflammation
as well as inhibition of bone marrow stem cell proliferation.