科研之友
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摘要
Introduction: The actin-sequestering thymosin beta4 (T4) is the most abundant member of the -thymosins, and is widely expressed in the central nervous system (CNS), but its functions in the healthy and diseased brain are poorly understood. The expression of T4 in neurons and microglia, the resident immune cells of the brain, suggests that it can play a role in modulating behavioral processes and immunological mechanisms in the brain. The purpose of this review is to shed lights on the role of T4 in CNS function and diseases without antecedent autoimmune inflammation or injury, and to question its therapeutic potential for neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.Areas covered: This review presents the evidence supporting a role for T4 in behaviors that are affected in CNS disorders, as well as studies linking T4 upregulation in microglia to neuroinflammatory processes associated with these disorders. Finally, the implication of T4 in the process of microglial activation and the mechanisms underlying its ability to suppress pro-inflammatory signaling in microglia are discussed.Expert opinion: T4 has the potential to control inflammatory processes in the brain, opening avenues for new therapeutic applications to a range of neurodegenerative conditions.
- 出版日期2018
