Thymulin
Also known as · Facteur Thymique Sérique · FTS · Zinc-thymulin
Overview
A nonapeptide secreted by thymic epithelial cells that requires zinc for biological activity, studied for T-cell differentiation and for anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.
Research profile · for clinicians
Based on research: the zinc dependency is central — activity collapses in zinc deficiency, which is one mechanistic explanation for immune decline in zinc-deficient and older populations.
Mechanism of action
Zinc-bound thymulin binds high-affinity T-cell receptors, driving thymocyte differentiation and modulating cytokine output; preclinical work also reports reduced neuroinflammatory signalling.
Research record
- [01]Serum thymulin activity declines with age and with zinc deficiency.
- [02]Anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects in rodent models.
Selected references
Thymulin: an overview of physiology and immunobiology
Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., 2000
Research deep dive
Every cited study, explained
Plain-language walkthroughs of each reference, with direct PubMed links and dosing-literature context.