Researchers Report Thymosin Beta 4 is Cardioprotective in Pulmonary Hypertension/Heart Failure Model
ROCKVILLE, Md., Nov. 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (OTCQB: RGRX) ("the Company" or "RegeneRx") today reported new published data demonstrating that Thymosin beta 4 (TB4) can be used effectively to prevent or reduce heart failure. In a standard murine model of pulmonary hypertension (induced by a toxic plant alkaloid) that causes compensatory right heart hypertrophy, TB4 significantly reduced the systolic pressure and right ventricular hypertrophy when compared to animals that were not treated with TB4. This study was reported in the scientific journal PLOS ONE, OI:10.1371/journal.pone.0110598 November 20, 2014.
"Our data revealed for the first time that TB4 selectively targets the Notch3-Col 3A-CTGF gene axis in preventing plant alkaloid-induced pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular hypertrophy," according to Dr. Sudhirajan Gupta, the senior author and researcher in the Division of Molecular Cardiology, Department of Medicine at Texas A&M Health Science Center in Temple, Texas.
"Our data revealed that inflammatory molecules which were triggered by the toxic plant alkaloid treatment were significantly reduced by TB4. Besides the anti-inflammatory effect, we demonstrated that TB4 also reversed the lung damage. Furthermore, the presence of significant fibrotic areas in the lungs of MCT-treated mice were observed in the untreated mice and significantly reduced in the TB4-treated mice. Together, our data underscore that treatment of TB4 attenuates inflammatory responses, reduces lung damage, and eventually restores right ventricular pressure," Dr. Gupta stated.
"The study provides additional evidence that TB4 could be used as a vasculoprotective agent for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension-induced heart failure and confirms other independent studies showing the reduction of damage and improvement of function in both acute and sub-chronic cardiac models," stated Allan L. Goldstein, Ph.D., RegeneRx's chairman and chief scientific advisor.
The research conducted by the research group was performed under a Material Transfer Agreement between RegeneRx and Texas A&M University Health Science Center.
About RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (www.regenerx.com)
RegeneRx is focused on the development of a novel therapeutic peptide, thymosin beta 4, for tissue and organ protection, repair and regeneration. RegeneRx currently is in clinical development of thymosin beta 4 for ophthalmic, cardiac, CNS and dermal indications, has strategic licensing agreements in China, the EU, and in other Pan Asia countries, including Korea, Japan and Australia, and has an extensive worldwide patent portfolio covering its products.
Forward-Looking Statements
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SOURCE RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.
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