Description
Ac-SKDPisapro-angiogenicpeptidedegradationproductofthymosinB4thatregulateshematopoiesisbyinhibitingproliferationofhematopoieticpluripotentstemcells(spleencolony-formingunits,orCFUs).Thispeptideexhibitscardioprotective,anti-inflammatory,andanti-fibroticactivities.Inanimalmodelsofchronicmyocardialinfarction,Ac-SDKPimprovesleftventricularfunction,increasesangiogenesis,anddecreasesinfarctsize.Inhypertensiverats,Ac-SDKPpreventsangiotensinII-inducedincreasesincollagensynthesisandcross-linkingaswellasexpressionofLOXandTGF-βandactivationofNF-κBandlymphocyticimmunecells.Inotheranimalmodels,thispeptidepreventsfibrosis,decreasingdepositionoffibronectinandcollagenanddecreasingthenumberofmyofibroblastsandmacrophages.Ac-SDKPalsoexhibitsnephroprotectiveactivity,inhibitingprogressionoflupusnephritisinanimalmodels;Ac-SDKPdecreasesproteinuria,infiltrationofinflammatoryTcellsandmacrophages,productionofTNF-α,activationofNF-κB,andphosphorylationofSmad2/3,resultinginimprovementsinrenalfunction.