Thymulin

Key Benefits#

• Enhances T-cell maturation and differentiation
• Boosts NK cell cytotoxic activity
• Reduces inflammatory cytokine production (TNF-α, IL-1)
• Anti-nociceptive (pain-reducing) properties
• Restores age-related immune decline
• Anti-inflammatory via serotonin pathway modulation

Mechanism of Action#

Thymulin binds to specific receptors on immature T-cells to induce differentiation markers and enhance cytotoxic T-cell activity. It promotes IL-2 receptor expression, enhances NK cell function, and modulates the balance between Th1 and Th2 immune responses. Its active form requires a zinc cofactor (Zn-FTS).

Dosing Protocols#

Side Effects#

• Injection site reactions
• Mild fatigue initially as immune system activates

Storage#

Lyophilized form: store at -20°C long term, 4°C for up to 4 weeks after reconstitution.

Featured In Stacks#

1. 1.
   T cells from individuals with and without hemophilia A respond to the same epitopes in factor VIII

   Vir P, Karim AF, Gunasekera D, Stering AI, Lieuw K, Meeks SL et al. · Journal of thrombosis and haemostasis : JTH · 2025PubMed Verified

2. 2.
   Causal effect between systemic inflammatory cytokines and osteoporotic pathological fractures: A bidirectional Mendelian randomization study

   Wang H, Wang D · Medicine · 2025PubMed Verified

3. 3.
   Single-Cell Transcriptomics Identifies a Prominent Role for the MIF-CD74 Axis in Myasthenia Gravis Thymus

   Terroba-Navajas P, Lu IN, Quast I, Heming M, Keller CW, Ostendorf L et al. · Neurology(R) neuroimmunology & neuroinflammation · 2025PubMed Verified

4. 4.
   Adulthood outcomes of thymic transplantation in a case of congenital athymia due to FOXN1 mutation

   Paulo-Pedro M, Moleirinho B, Santos DF, Gomes AMC, Rei M, Almeida ARM et al. · The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology · 2025Case ReportPubMed Verified

5. 5.
   Inflammatory proteins and hidradenitis suppurativa: Insights from genetic correlation and Mendelian randomization

   Luo H, Chen Y, Li J, Yang Y, Wang X, Yang P et al. · The Journal of dermatology · 2025PubMed Verified

6. 6.
   Peripheral-derived regulatory T cells contribute to tumor-mediated immune suppression in a nonredundant manner

   Hossain MM, King P, Hackett J, Gerard HC, Niwinski R, Wu L et al. · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · 2024PubMed Verified

7. 7.
   Selectively T cell phosphorylation activation of azvudine in the thymus tissue with immune protection effect

   Sheng N, Li R, Li Y, Wang Z, Wang L, Li Y et al. · Acta pharmaceutica Sinica. B · 2024PubMed Verified

8. 8.
   Comprehensive plasma cytokine and chemokine profiling in prurigo nodularis reveals endotypes in Type 2 inflammation

   Cornman HL, Manjunath J, Reddy SV, Adams J, Rajeh A, Samuel C et al. · Scientific reports · 2024PubMed Verified

9. 9.
   ctDNA-based detection of molecular residual disease in stage I-III non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with definitive radiotherapy

   Lebow ES, Shaverdian N, Eichholz JE, Kratochvil LB, McCune M, Murciano-Goroff YR et al. · Frontiers in oncology · 2023PubMed Verified

10. 10.
    Short-term fasting of mice elevates circulating fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23)

    Feger M, Alber J, Strotmann J, Grund A, Leifheit-Nestler M, Haffner D et al. · Acta physiologica (Oxford, England) · 2023PubMed Verified

11. 11.
    TSLP shapes the pathogenic responses of memory CD4(+) T cells in eosinophilic esophagitis

    Rochman Y, Kotliar M, Ben-Baruch Morgenstern N, Barski A, Wen T, Rothenberg ME · Science signaling · 2023PubMed Verified

12. 12.
    Protective effect of exogenous peroxiredoxin 6 and thymic peptide thymulin on BBB conditions in an experimental model of multiple sclerosis

    Lunin SM, Novoselova EG, Glushkova OV, Parfenyuk SB, Kuzekova AA, Novoselova TV et al. · Archives of biochemistry and biophysics · 2023PubMed Verified

13. 13.
    Thymus-derived hormonal and cellular control of cancer

    Savino W, Lepletier A · Frontiers in endocrinology · 2023ReviewPubMed Verified

14. 14.
    Reaction of different cell types of the brain on neurotoxin cuprizone and hormone melatonin treatment in young and aging mice

    Labunets I, Rodnichenko A, Savosko S, Pivneva T · Frontiers in cellular neuroscience · 2023PubMed Verified

15. 15.
    Existing knowledge on Zn status biomarkers (1963-2021) with a particular focus on FADS1 and FADS2 diagnostic performance and recommendations for further research

    Knez M, Boy E · Frontiers in nutrition · 2022ReviewPubMed Verified

16. 16.
    Cytomegalovirus-specific T cells restricted for shared and donor human leukocyte antigens differentially impact on cytomegalovirus reactivation risk after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

    Tassi E, Noviello M, De Simone P, Lupo-Stanghellini MT, Doglio M, Serio F et al. · Haematologica · 2023PubMed Verified

17. 17.
    Mechanisms of Direct and Indirect Presentation of Self-Antigens in the Thymus

    Březina J, Vobořil M, Filipp D · Frontiers in immunology · 2022ReviewPubMed Verified

18. 18.
    Effectiveness of interleukin-4 administration or zinc supplementation in improving zinc deficiency-associated thymic atrophy and fatty degeneration and in normalizing T cell maturation process

    Kido T, Suka M, Yanagisawa H · Immunology · 2022PubMed Verified

19. 19.
    Predictors of low ovarian reserve in cART-treated women living with HIV

    Merlini E, Tincati C, Sacchi V, Augello M, Bono V, Cannizzo ES et al. · Medicine · 2021PubMed Verified

20. 20.
    Intrathymic Plasmablasts Are Affected in Patients With Myasthenia Gravis With Active Disease

    Yamamoto Y, Matsui N, Uzawa A, Ozawa Y, Kanai T, Oda F et al. · Neurology(R) neuroimmunology & neuroinflammation · 2021PubMed Verified

21. 21.
    Chemokine/Cytokine Levels Correlate with Organ Involvement in PR3-ANCA-Associated Vasculitis

    Müller-Deile J, Jaremenko C, Haller H, Schiffer M, Haubitz M, Christiansen S et al. · Journal of clinical medicine · 2021PubMed Verified

22. 22.
    Thymulin and peroxiredoxin 6 have protective effects against streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetes in mice

    Novoselova EG, Glushkova OV, Lunin SM, Khrenov MO, Parfenyuk SB, Novoselova TV et al. · International journal of immunopathology and pharmacology · 2021PubMed Verified

23. 23.
    Persistent T Cell Repertoire Perturbation and T Cell Activation in HIV After Long Term Treatment

    Turner CT, Brown J, Shaw E, Uddin I, Tsaliki E, Roe JK et al. · Frontiers in immunology · 2021PubMed Verified

24. 24.
    Brain cancer induces systemic immunosuppression through release of non-steroid soluble mediators

    Ayasoufi K, Pfaller CK, Evgin L, Khadka RH, Tritz ZP, Goddery EN et al. · Brain : a journal of neurology · 2020PubMed Verified

25. 25.
    A Unique Population of Regulatory T Cells in Heart Potentiates Cardiac Protection From Myocardial Infarction

    Xia N, Lu Y, Gu M, Li N, Liu M, Jiao J et al. · Circulation · 2020PubMed Verified

26. 26.
    CD70 Inversely Regulates Regulatory T Cells and Invariant NKT Cells and Modulates Type 1 Diabetes in NOD Mice

    Ye C, Low BE, Wiles MV, Brusko TM, Serreze DV, Driver JP · Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950) · 2020PubMed Verified

27. 27.
    Exploring the Pathogenic Role and Therapeutic Implications of Interleukin 2 in Autoimmune Hepatitis

    Czaja AJ · Digestive diseases and sciences · 2021ReviewPubMed Verified

28. 28.
    Precursors of thymic peptides as stress sensors

    Lunin S, Khrenov M, Glushkova O, Parfenyuk S, Novoselova T, Novoselova E · Expert opinion on biological therapy · 2020ReviewPubMed Verified

29. 29.
    Nanoparticle-based thymulin gene therapy therapeutically reverses key pathology of experimental allergic asthma

    da Silva AL, de Oliveira GP, Kim N, Cruz FF, Kitoko JZ, Blanco NG et al. · Science advances · 2020PubMed Verified

30. 30.
    Gene editing to induce FOXP3 expression in human CD4(+) T cells leads to a stable regulatory phenotype and function

    Honaker Y, Hubbard N, Xiang Y, Fisher L, Hagin D, Sommer K et al. · Science translational medicine · 2020PubMed Verified

31. 31.
    Lessons Learned from Experimental Human Model of Zinc Deficiency

    Prasad AS · Journal of immunology research · 2020PubMed Verified

32. 32.
    Comparison of Thymulin Activity with Other Measures of Marginal Zinc Deficiency

    DiSilvestro RA, Dardenne M, Joseph E · Biological trace element research · 2021PubMed Verified

33. 33.
    Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Lyase Inhibition Alters the S1P Gradient and Ameliorates Crohn's-Like Ileitis by Suppressing Thymocyte Maturation

    Karuppuchamy T, Tyler CJ, Lundborg LR, Pérez-Jeldres T, Kimball AK, Clambey ET et al. · Inflammatory bowel diseases · 2020PubMed Verified

34. 34.
    Protective Effect of PBCA Nanoparticles Loaded with Thymulin Against the Relapsing-Remitting Form of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis in Mice

    Lunin SM, Khrenov MO, Glushkova OV, Parfenyuk SB, Novoselova TV, Novoselova EG · International journal of molecular sciences · 2019PubMed Verified

35. 35.
    TSLP induces a proinflammatory phenotype in circulating innate cells and predicts prognosis in sepsis patients

    Qichuan Y, Li Y, Wang H, Xiong H · FEBS open bio · 2019PubMed Verified

36. 36.
    Prenatal and childhood exposures are associated with thymulin concentrations in young adolescent children in rural Nepal

    Palmer AC, Schulze KJ, Khatry SK, West KP · Journal of developmental origins of health and disease · 2020RCTPubMed Verified

37. 37.
    In mice transgenic for IGF1 under keratin-14 promoter, lifespan is decreased and the rates of aging and thymus involution are accelerated

    Anisimov VN, Labunets IF, Popovich IG, Tyndyk ML, Yurova MN, Golubev AG · Aging · 2019PubMed Verified

38. 38.
    Effects of bariatric surgery on telomere length and T-cell aging

    Jongbloed F, Meijers RWJ, IJzermans JNM, Klaassen RA, Dollé MET, van den Berg S et al. · International journal of obesity (2005) · 2019PubMed Verified

39. 39.
    Single-Cell Resolution and Quantitation of Targeted Glucocorticoid Delivery in the Thymus

    Taves MD, Mittelstadt PR, Presman DM, Hager GL, Ashwell JD · Cell reports · 2019PubMed Verified

40. 40.
    Thymulin treatment attenuates inflammatory pain by modulating spinal cellular and molecular signaling pathways

    Nasseri B, Zaringhalam J, Daniali S, Manaheji H, Abbasnejad Z, Nazemian V · International immunopharmacology · 2019PubMed Verified

41. 41.
    Targeting inflammatory components in neuropathic pain: The analgesic effect of thymulin related peptide

    Safieh-Garabedian B, Nomikos M, Saadé N · Neuroscience letters · 2019ReviewPubMed Verified

42. 42.
    The Role of Gene Therapy in Premature Ovarian Insufficiency Management

    Atabiekov I, Hobeika E, Sheikh U, El Andaloussi A, Al-Hendy A · Biomedicines · 2018ReviewPubMed Verified

43. 43.
    Effects of Low-to-Moderate Doses of Gamma Radiation on Mouse Hematopoietic System

    Li X, Cui W, Hull L, Smith JT, Kiang JG, Xiao M · Radiation research · 2018PubMed Verified

44. 44.
    Lethal Influenza in Two Related Adults with Inherited GATA2 Deficiency

    Sologuren I, Martínez-Saavedra MT, Solé-Violán J, de Borges de Oliveira E Jr, Betancor E, Casas I et al. · Journal of clinical immunology · 2018Case ReportPubMed Verified

45. 45.
    Thymulin, free or bound to PBCA nanoparticles, protects mice against chronic septic inflammation

    Novoselova EG, Lunin SM, Glushkova OV, Khrenov MO, Parfenyuk SB, Zakharova NM et al. · PloS one · 2018PubMed Verified

46. 46.
    A Novel Distal Enhancer Mediates Inflammation-, PTH-, and Early Onset Murine Kidney Disease-Induced Expression of the Mouse Fgf23 Gene

    Onal M, Carlson AH, Thostenson JD, Benkusky NA, Meyer MB, Lee SM et al. · JBMR plus · 2018PubMed Verified

47. 47.
    CD4 T cells specific for factor VIII are present at high frequency in healthy donors and comprise naïve and memory cells

    Meunier S, Menier C, Marcon E, Lacroix-Desmazes S, Maillère B · Blood advances · 2017PubMed Verified

48. 48.
    Testosterone Attenuates Group 2 Innate Lymphoid Cell-Mediated Airway Inflammation

    Cephus JY, Stier MT, Fuseini H, Yung JA, Toki S, Bloodworth MH et al. · Cell reports · 2017PubMed Verified

49. 49.
    Prolonged IKKβ Inhibition Improves Ongoing CTL Antitumor Responses by Incapacitating Regulatory T Cells

    Heuser C, Gotot J, Piotrowski EC, Philipp MS, Courrèges CJF, Otte MS et al. · Cell reports · 2017PubMed Verified

50. 50.
    Thymic stromal lymphopoietin contribution to the recruitment of circulating fibrocytes to the lung in a mouse model of chronic allergic asthma

    Chen ZG, Meng P, Li HT, Li M, Yang LF, Yan Y et al. · The Journal of asthma : official journal of the Association for the Care of Asthma · 2018PubMed Verified