Thymalin

What it is

Thymalin is a polypeptide extract from the thymus gland, the organ where T lymphocytes (a type of immune cell) mature. It is used in Russian research and medicine and is studied for restoring immune function, particularly in aging and in immunocompromised states.

In the PeptidesAI encyclopedia it is categorized under immune. Much of the evidence comes from Russian research groups, and independent Western data is limited.

How it's thought to work

Thymalin is described as supporting T-lymphocyte maturation and normalizing the balance of immune cell populations, helping offset the age-related decline in thymic immune function. In a laboratory study on human hematopoietic (blood-forming) stem cells, thymalin reduced expression of the stem cell markers CD44 and CD117 and increased expression of CD28, a marker of mature T lymphocytes, which the authors interpreted as stimulated differentiation into mature T cells.

What the research says

Russian clinical research reports improved outcomes in elderly cohorts. In one study reported by researchers at the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology and the Institute of Gerontology in Kiev, 266 older adults were followed for 6 to 8 years, and mortality was lower in the Thymalin-treated group than in the control group, alongside reported improvements in indices of immune, cardiovascular and endocrine function. Independent Western data is limited, and Thymalin is not FDA-approved.

Reported side effects

Occasional injection site reactions have been reported with thymalin. Independent Western safety data is limited.

Reconstitution

Thymalin is supplied as a lyophilized (freeze-dried) powder and is typically reconstituted with bacteriostatic (BAC) water before use. It commonly comes in 10 mg vials. The amount of peptide in the vial is fixed; the water added only changes how concentrated the solution is.

Worked example. A 10 mg vial is 10,000 mcg. Reconstituted with 2 mL of BAC water, that works out to 10,000 mcg ÷ 2 mL = 5,000 mcg/mL. On a U-100 insulin syringe, where each unit is 0.01 mL, each unit holds 5,000 × 0.01 = 50 mcg. Use the peptide reconstitution calculator to work out the concentration and units for any vial size and water volume.

Important notes

Thymalin is used in Russia and is not FDA-approved. The evidence base is largely non-Western.

Sources

1. Peptides of pineal gland and thymus prolong human life.. Khavinson VKh et al. Neuroendocrinology Letters, 2003. Human trial
2. Thymalin: Activation of Differentiation of Human Hematopoietic Stem Cells.. Khavinson VK et al. Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine, 2020. Preclinical

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Frequently asked questions

These questions cover the same ground as the sections above, in a shorter format.

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