Thymosin beta 4 as a restorative/regenerative therapy for neurological injury and neurodegenerative disease

摘要

Thymosin beta 4 (T beta 4) promotes CNS and peripheral nervous system (PNS) plasticity and neurovascular remodeling leading to neurological recovery in a range of neurological diseases. Treatment of neural injury and neurodegenerative disease 24 h or more post-injury and disease onset with T beta 4 enhances angiogenesis, neurogenesis, neurite and axonal outgrowth, and oligodendrogenesis, and thereby, significantly improves functional and behavioral outcomes. We propose that oligodendrogenesis is a common link by which T beta 4 promotes recovery after neural injury and neurodegenerative disease. The ability to target many diverse restorative processes via multiple molecular pathways that drive oligodendrogenesis and neurovascular remodeling may be mediated by the ability of T beta 4 to alter cellular expression of microRNAs (miRNAs). However, further investigations on the essential role of nniRNAs in regulating protein expression and the remarkable exosomal intercellular communication network via exosomes will likely provide insight into mechanisms of action and means to amplify the therapeutic effects of T beta 4.