01dragonslayer
Administrator
TB-500 is also known as thymosin beta 4 (TB4). Thymosin Beta 4 has been found, in animal models, to play a central role in controlling the structure of cells. By improving cell structure, TB-500 is thought to aid in wound healing, improve cell responses to stress, and even help cells to live longer. Scientific animal research studies have shown that TB-500's role in regulating cell structure may eventually make it a leading therapeutic in wound healing, blood vessel repair, and even ocular (eye) repair.
Research has shown that when it comes to brain health, there are few drugs, supplements, or diets that make much difference. Unfortunately, the brain has remained a mystery to medical science and thus efforts to determine how to keep the brain healthy have been hindered. Science can tell us only that regular exercise and a relatively meat-free diet are associated with long-term brain health. There may, however, be some new evidence regarding thymosin beta 4 (also known as TB-4, or TB-500) and its impact on neural health.
Thymosin Beta 4
TB-500 (TB-4) is a naturally occurring peptide that is known to produce a vast array of healing and regenerative effects. It appears to promote everything from bone remodeling and growth after fracture to healing of heart muscle after a myocardial infarction (heart attack). Recent research in rats now suggests that TB-500 (TB-4) may improve neurological outcomes after stroke or brain damage.
The Basics
TB-500 is a regulator of actin polymerization and actin is one of the basic structural components of the cell membrane. Unlike the structural components of a building, actin is an active structural component, which is to say that actin filaments are constantly being built and broken down. In fact, the assembly and disassembly of actin filaments is one of the primary means by which cells are able to move.
TB-500 binds to actin and acts to control levels of actin monomers within the cell. Release of these monomers from TB-500 drives actin polymerization and thereby affects both the structure of the cell membrane as well as cell motility [1]. Increased levels of TB4 are observed in wound healing in animal models and supplementation with TB-500 has been shown to promote tissue recovery after exercise in rat models.
Why TB-500 Matters
Blood vessels are a necessary prerequisite for all biochemical processes from cell growth to tissue repair and remodeling. TB-500 has been shown to encourage migration of endothelial (vascular) cells in animal and in vitro models. By encouraging migration, TB-500 can promote blood vessel growth in animal models, even in tissues like cartilage [2].
By encouraging cell growth, TB-500 not only aids in tissue repair, but helps to ensure more thorough and complete repair. A study in mouse models of heart attack found that TB-500 initiates capillary tube formation, encouraging the heart muscle to regenerate and inhibiting death in heart cells after injury [3]. In short, TB-500 can both protect cells from damage and encourage repair following damage.
Neurologic Restoration
Treatment of neurological diseases is still in the Stone Age, for the most part. Advanced drugs, like tissue plasminogen activator (designed to dissolve clots), only produce benefit in about 30% of subjects. Restorative therapies, which are designed to remodel the nervous system so that existing structures can take over some of the lost function, have been difficult to develop[1].
Studies in rats indicate that TB-500 (TB-4) promotes remodeling in both the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS). TB-500 (TB-4) is found in all mammalian cells and seems to control a very complicated process by which certain cells become more responsive to injury. In the nervous system, TB-500 (TB-4) has been observed to activate oligodendrocytes, the cells that support neurons and keep them healthy[2]. Rats suffering from stroke show improved blood vessel and neural growth in the brain regions surrounding the damaged area, with concomitant improvements in behavioral, motor, and cognitive indices[3].
Disease Prevention
It isn't yet clear if TB-500 (Thymosin Beta 4) has preventative effects in addition to its restorative effects. In fact, exogenous administration of the peptide to subjects suffering brain injury has not yet been attempted. The science surrounding this peptide is in its infancy, but the results to date are promising. There is a great deal of hope, among neuroscientists and physicians, that TB-4 may be useful in staving off the effects of aging and dementia.
The Big Picture
TB-500 has effects in a wide range of tissues such as vascular, cardiac muscle, corneal, skin, and skeletal muscle tissues. Research in animal models has been promising, suggesting that TB-500 may be a useful tool not just to speed wound healing and recovery from injury, but also to ensure that injuries are more limited and that repairs are more complete.
Research has shown that when it comes to brain health, there are few drugs, supplements, or diets that make much difference. Unfortunately, the brain has remained a mystery to medical science and thus efforts to determine how to keep the brain healthy have been hindered. Science can tell us only that regular exercise and a relatively meat-free diet are associated with long-term brain health. There may, however, be some new evidence regarding thymosin beta 4 (also known as TB-4, or TB-500) and its impact on neural health.
Thymosin Beta 4
TB-500 (TB-4) is a naturally occurring peptide that is known to produce a vast array of healing and regenerative effects. It appears to promote everything from bone remodeling and growth after fracture to healing of heart muscle after a myocardial infarction (heart attack). Recent research in rats now suggests that TB-500 (TB-4) may improve neurological outcomes after stroke or brain damage.
The Basics
TB-500 is a regulator of actin polymerization and actin is one of the basic structural components of the cell membrane. Unlike the structural components of a building, actin is an active structural component, which is to say that actin filaments are constantly being built and broken down. In fact, the assembly and disassembly of actin filaments is one of the primary means by which cells are able to move.
TB-500 binds to actin and acts to control levels of actin monomers within the cell. Release of these monomers from TB-500 drives actin polymerization and thereby affects both the structure of the cell membrane as well as cell motility [1]. Increased levels of TB4 are observed in wound healing in animal models and supplementation with TB-500 has been shown to promote tissue recovery after exercise in rat models.
Why TB-500 Matters
Blood vessels are a necessary prerequisite for all biochemical processes from cell growth to tissue repair and remodeling. TB-500 has been shown to encourage migration of endothelial (vascular) cells in animal and in vitro models. By encouraging migration, TB-500 can promote blood vessel growth in animal models, even in tissues like cartilage [2].
By encouraging cell growth, TB-500 not only aids in tissue repair, but helps to ensure more thorough and complete repair. A study in mouse models of heart attack found that TB-500 initiates capillary tube formation, encouraging the heart muscle to regenerate and inhibiting death in heart cells after injury [3]. In short, TB-500 can both protect cells from damage and encourage repair following damage.
Neurologic Restoration
Treatment of neurological diseases is still in the Stone Age, for the most part. Advanced drugs, like tissue plasminogen activator (designed to dissolve clots), only produce benefit in about 30% of subjects. Restorative therapies, which are designed to remodel the nervous system so that existing structures can take over some of the lost function, have been difficult to develop[1].
Studies in rats indicate that TB-500 (TB-4) promotes remodeling in both the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS). TB-500 (TB-4) is found in all mammalian cells and seems to control a very complicated process by which certain cells become more responsive to injury. In the nervous system, TB-500 (TB-4) has been observed to activate oligodendrocytes, the cells that support neurons and keep them healthy[2]. Rats suffering from stroke show improved blood vessel and neural growth in the brain regions surrounding the damaged area, with concomitant improvements in behavioral, motor, and cognitive indices[3].
Disease Prevention
It isn't yet clear if TB-500 (Thymosin Beta 4) has preventative effects in addition to its restorative effects. In fact, exogenous administration of the peptide to subjects suffering brain injury has not yet been attempted. The science surrounding this peptide is in its infancy, but the results to date are promising. There is a great deal of hope, among neuroscientists and physicians, that TB-4 may be useful in staving off the effects of aging and dementia.
The Big Picture
TB-500 has effects in a wide range of tissues such as vascular, cardiac muscle, corneal, skin, and skeletal muscle tissues. Research in animal models has been promising, suggesting that TB-500 may be a useful tool not just to speed wound healing and recovery from injury, but also to ensure that injuries are more limited and that repairs are more complete.
