Thymalin

Product Details

Thymalin (Thymulin, FTS) — Research Grade Peptide, ≥98% Purity (HPLC)

Zinc-dependent thymic nonapeptide. T-cell differentiation research tool. Lyophilized powder. Lot-specific COA included.

Thymalin, also known as thymulin or Facteur Thymique Sérique (FTS), is a synthetic nonapeptide with the sequence Pyr-Ala-Lys-Ser-Gln-Gly-Gly-Ser-Asn. It was first characterized in 1977 by Jean-François Bach and colleagues, who isolated the factor from thymic epithelial cell cultures and identified it as the circulating thymic hormone detectable in serum.

The peptide is produced by thymic epithelial cells and requires zinc for biological activity. The zinc-thymulin complex is the active species: without zinc bound, the peptide is biologically inert. This metal dependence is not a minor detail — it is the defining pharmacological feature of the molecule, and it means that any in vitro study using Thymalin must account for zinc availability in the culture system.

Thymalin’s research profile centers on T-cell differentiation and immune reconstitution. The zinc-thymulin complex modulates T-cell subset balance, cytokine production, and immune cell activation, and it influences neuroendocrine-immune interactions through effects on hypothalamic-pituitary function. Thymulin levels decline significantly as the thymus involutes with age, contributing to age-related immune dysfunction, and studies in aging animal models suggest that thymulin supplementation may restore some immune parameters.

The human evidence base comes almost entirely from Russian clinical research, and it is the most distinctive feature of this compound’s literature. A long-term geroprotective study of 266 elderly and older persons followed over 6–8 years reported a 2.0–2.1-fold decrease in mortality in the Thymalin-treated group compared with control, and a 4.1-fold decrease in a separate group treated with Thymalin plus Epithalamin annually for 6 years. Those findings have not been independently replicated in a Western trial.

Supplied as a sterile-filtered, lyophilized powder for in vitro and preclinical research applications. Each lot is independently verified for purity and identity and ships with a Certificate of Analysis.

Specifications

Note: The material supplied as “Thymalin” by most research-use vendors is the synthetic nonapeptide thymulin (CAS 63958-90-7), not the Russian bovine thymus extract. The extract form has no defined sequence or molecular weight. Some suppliers list CAS 53633-49-1 for products labeled “Thymalin,” but that number could not be matched to Thymalin in any registry searched. Verify the sequence, molecular weight, and CAS number against the Certificate of Analysis supplied with your lot. The peptide requires zinc for activity, and the supplied powder is metal-free.

Research applications

Thymalin is used in laboratory settings to investigate:

• T-cell differentiation and maturation — zinc-thymulin complex-mediated modulation of T-cell subset balance, lymphocyte maturation, and cytokine production in immune cell cultures

• Immunosenescence and age-related immune decline — thymulin levels decline as the thymus involutes with age, and supplementation restores immune parameters in aging animal models

• Neuroendocrine-immune interactions — thymulin’s effects on hypothalamic-pituitary function and the bidirectional signaling between the immune and neuroendocrine systems

• Geroprotective and longevity research — the 2003 study of 266 elderly patients reported a 2.0–2.1-fold mortality decrease with Thymalin and a 4.1-fold decrease with Thymalin plus Epithalamin over 6 years

• COVID-19 immune dysregulation — a 2021 study reported improved immune status in older patients with severe COVID-19, with accelerated decline in IL-6, CRP, and D-dimer markers

• Secondary immunodeficiency research — a meta-analysis of the immunomodulating activity of Thymalin across Russian clinical studies reported immunocorrective effects in conditions with secondary immunodeficiency

• Analgesic and anti-inflammatory research — Thymalin has shown analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties independent of its immune effects in animal models

• Analytical method development — LC-MS/MS quantification and reference standard preparation for thymic factor analysis in biological matrices

Handling and storage

Reconstitute under aseptic conditions using sterile water or an appropriate aqueous buffer. Thymalin is soluble in water. The peptide is supplied metal-free; if your study requires the biologically active zinc-bound form, zinc must be added separately under controlled conditions. Aliquot immediately after reconstitution to avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles. Lyophilized powder is stable for up to 2 years at −20 °C under sealed, desiccated, light-protected conditions. Reconstituted solutions should be stored at 2–8 °C and used within 14–21 days.

For laboratory use by qualified personnel only.