Thymalin Technical Specification Sheet
Molecular Properties
| Parameter |
Value |
| Chemical Name |
Thymalin / Thymic Extract Peptide Complex |
| Composition |
Polypeptide fraction from bovine/porcine thymus gland; mixture of low MW peptides (1-10 kDa) |
| Primary Active Fraction |
Thymic peptides primarily 2-20 amino acids in length |
| Molecular Weight Range |
1,000-10,000 Da (complex mixture) |
| CAS Number |
69558-55-0 (thymus extract) |
| Origin |
Extracted from thymus gland tissue (bovine or porcine) |
| Bioregulator Class |
Thymic peptide bioregulator; immunomodulatory complex |
Physical Properties
| Property |
Specification |
| Appearance |
White to light beige lyophilized powder |
| Solubility |
Freely soluble in water, PBS, or saline at 1-10 mg/mL |
| pH (1% solution) |
5.5 - 7.5 |
| Hygroscopicity |
Moderate; store desiccated |
| Solution Stability |
Stable at 4°C for 7-10 days after reconstitution |
Analytical Specifications
| Test |
Specification |
| Protein/Peptide Content |
≥85% (by Bradford or Lowry assay) |
| HPLC Profile |
Characteristic peptide fingerprint; consistent with reference standard |
| Mass Spectrometry |
MW distribution 1-10 kDa; multiple peptide species detected |
| Endotoxin Level |
<10 EU/mg (tissue-derived product) |
| Heavy Metals |
<20 ppm total; <2 ppm lead |
| Microbial Limits |
Total aerobic count <1000 CFU/g; yeast/mold <100 CFU/g |
| Water Content |
≤10% (Karl Fischer) |
Storage Parameters
| Condition |
Specification |
| Lyophilized Storage |
-20°C, desiccated with desiccant |
| Lyophilized Shelf Life |
24 months when stored properly |
| Reconstituted Storage |
2-8°C for up to 10 days; -20°C for up to 3 months |
| Reconstitution Protocol |
Add 1-2 mL sterile water or bacteriostatic water to 10 mg vial; gentle swirl 1-2 minutes |
| Freeze-Thaw Cycles |
Maximum 3 cycles; activity may decrease with repeated freezing |
| Light Sensitivity |
Low; standard laboratory storage acceptable |
Research Dosing Reference
| Application |
Typical Dose Range |
Frequency |
Route |
| In Vitro Immune Cell Studies |
10-100 μg/mL |
24-72 hour incubation |
Culture media |
| Small Animal Models (Rodent) |
0.5-5 mg/kg |
Daily or every other day for 10-20 days |
SC or IM injection |
| Immunomodulation Studies |
1-10 mg/kg |
5-10 consecutive days, then 10-day break |
SC preferred |
| Age-Related Research |
2-5 mg/kg |
Cyclic: 10 days on, 10 days off |
SC or IM |
Note: Dosing information is for research reference only. Thymalin is intended strictly for laboratory research. Cyclic administration protocols commonly used to mimic physiological thymic function.
Key Research Studies
| Year |
Study Focus |
Key Findings |
| 1977 |
Initial characterization of thymic peptides |
Khavinson and Morozov isolated polypeptide fraction from calf thymus; demonstrated immunomodulatory activity in vitro with T-cell proliferation increased 40-60% at 10-50 μg/mL |
| 1988 |
T-cell differentiation and maturation |
Thymalin administration (1-5 mg/kg for 10 days) increased CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell counts by 25-45% in immunodeficient animal models; normalized thymulin and IL-2 levels |
| 2003 |
Age-related immune function decline |
Cyclic thymalin treatment (3 mg/kg, 10-day cycles) in aged rodents restored thymic cortical/medullary ratio; increased naive T-cell output by 35%; reduced inflammatory markers (TNF-α, IL-6) by 20-30% |
| 2015 |
Mechanism and gene expression profiling |
Microarray analysis revealed thymalin upregulated 87 immune-related genes; primary effects on T-cell receptor signaling, IL-2/IL-7 pathways, and thymopoiesis transcription factors (FOXN1, HOXA3) |
Mechanism of Action
| Biological Pathway |
Description |
| Thymic Bioregulation |
Polypeptide complex acts on thymic epithelial cells and developing thymocytes; mimics endogenous thymic hormones (thymopoietin, thymulin, thymosin) |
| T-Cell Differentiation |
Promotes maturation of T-cell precursors in thymus; enhances positive/negative selection; increases CD4+/CD8+ differentiation |
| Immune Homeostasis |
Normalizes T-helper (Th1/Th2) balance; modulates cytokine production (IL-2, IFN-γ, IL-4); enhances regulatory T-cell function |
| Gene Regulation |
Influences expression of thymic transcription factors; upregulates genes involved in T-cell receptor rearrangement and thymopoiesis |
| Duration of Effect |
Cumulative effects over 10-20 days; immunological changes persist 2-4 weeks post-treatment |
Quality Control Parameters
| Test Method |
Acceptance Criteria |
| Appearance (visual) |
White to light beige powder; uniform texture |
| Reconstitution Test |
Complete dissolution within 2-3 minutes; clear to slightly opalescent |
| HPLC Fingerprint |
Matches reference standard; correlation coefficient ≥0.95 |
| Protein Content (Bradford) |
≥85% peptide/protein content |
| Biological Activity |
≥80% potency vs reference in T-cell proliferation assay |
Bioregulator Peptide Class Comparison
| Bioregulator |
Tissue Origin |
Primary Target System |
| Thymalin |
Thymus gland |
Immune system (T-cells, thymopoiesis) |
| Pinealon |
Brain (pineal/CNS) |
Central nervous system (neuroprotection) |
| Cortagen |
Brain cortex |
Cerebral cortex (cognitive function) |
| Epitalon |
Pineal gland |
Pineal function (melatonin, telomerase) |
Active Peptide Components (Representative)
| Component Type |
MW Range |
Proposed Function |
| Low MW Peptides (2-5 aa) |
200-600 Da |
Rapid signaling; cytokine modulation |
| Medium MW Peptides (6-15 aa) |
600-2000 Da |
T-cell receptor signaling; differentiation factors |
| Higher MW Peptides (16-50 aa) |
2000-6000 Da |
Thymic hormone-like activity; gene regulation |
| Thymic Protein Fragments |
6000-10000 Da |
Structural support; carrier functions |
Disclaimer: This product is intended for research use only. Not for human or veterinary diagnostic or therapeutic use. Thymalin is a tissue-derived complex; batch-to-batch variation may occur.