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INTRODUCTION: There is an urgent need for new treatments for chronic kidney disease (CKD). Thymosin-β4 is a peptide that reduces inflammation and fibrosis and has the potential to restore endothelial and epithelial cell injury, biological processes involved in the pathophysiology of CKD. Therefore, thymosin-β4 could be a novel therapeutic direction for CKD. AREAS COVERED: Here, we review the current evidence on the actions of thymosin-β4 in the kidney in health and disease. Using transgenic mice, two recent studies have demonstrated that endogenous thymosin-β4 is dispensable for healthy kidneys. In contrast, lack of endogenous thymosin-β4 exacerbates mouse models of glomerular disease and angiotensin-II-induced renal injury. Administration of exogenous thymosin-β4, or its metabolite, Ac-SDKP, has shown therapeutic benefits in a range of experimental models of kidney disease. EXPERT OPINION: The studies conducted so far reveal a protective role for thymosin-β4 in the kidney and have shown promising results for the therapeutic potential of exogenous thymosin-β4 in CKD. Further studies should explore the mechanisms by which thymosin-β4 modulates kidney function in different types of CKD. Ac-SDKP treatment has beneficial effects in many experimental models of kidney disease, thus supporting its potential use as a new treatment strategy.

Original publication

DOI

10.1080/14712598.2018.1473371

Type

Journal article

Journal

Expert Opin Biol Ther

Publication Date

07/2018

Volume

18

Pages

185 - 192

Keywords

Ac-SDKP, cytoskeleton, fibrosis, glomerulus, inflammation, kidney disease, podocyte, thymosin-β4, Animals, Disease Models, Animal, Fibrosis, Humans, Inflammation, Kidney, Mice, Mice, Transgenic, Renal Insufficiency, Chronic, Thymosin