Thymulin (Zinc-Thymulin)

Also known as: FTS (facteur thymique serique), zinc-thymulin, serum thymic factor

Wellness

In plain English

Thymulin is a natural thymus-gland hormone that requires zinc to work and helps mature immune T-cells. Its activity falls with age and with zinc deficiency. It is studied for immune regulation and has been explored topically for hair loss. Human therapeutic evidence is limited and mostly older or mechanistic; it is not an FDA-approved drug.

The science

Thymulin is a nonapeptide thymic hormone that is biologically active only when bound to zinc; zinc-thymulin promotes T-cell differentiation and modulates cytokine and neuroendocrine signaling. Human thymic epithelial cells secrete zinc-thymulin under cytokine (IL-1) regulation (Coto et al., 1992), and its levels decline with thymic involution and zinc deficiency, which can be partly reversed by zinc repletion (reviewed by Reggiani et al., 2009). Contemporary controlled human therapeutic trials are lacking; use in immune-support and topical hair-loss compounds is investigational and not FDA-approved.

References

• Reggiani PC et al., Ann N Y Acad Sci 2009 (thymus-neuroendocrine axis; thymulin)
• Coto JA et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1992 (IL-1 regulates zinc-thymulin secretion)