TB-500: a research overview

TB-500 is the synthetic version of the active fragment of Thymosin Beta-4 (Tβ4), a 43-amino-acid actin-sequestering protein. That synthetic fragment maps to amino acids 17–23 of Tβ4 (Ac-LKKTETQ). CAS: 885340-08-9.

Platelets, white blood cells and various other cell types make Thymosin Beta-4, releasing it in large amounts after tissue injury. Studies have centred on its part in driving angiogenesis, cell migration, and the regulation of inflammation.

TB-500 works chiefly by interacting with G-actin (globular actin). Binding monomeric actin and holding back its polymerisation into F-actin filaments lets Tβ4 govern the cytoskeletal dynamics that cell migration depends on.

Within wound-healing models, this encourages keratinocytes and endothelial cells to migrate into the wound edges. TB-500 also seems to raise matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) levels and lower inflammatory mediators, which aids extracellular-matrix remodelling.

Across published rodent and large-animal studies, TB-500 has been looked at in:

• Cardiac muscle repair after myocardial infarction (mouse/rat)
• Dermal wound healing (full-thickness excision models)
• Corneal repair
• Traumatic brain injury (mouse)
• Tendon injury (horse — naturally occurring Tβ4)

As is the case with other research peptides, no link to human clinical outcomes has been established, and human clinical data is absent.

Keep lyophilized TB-500 at −20 °C. Reconstitute it with bacteriostatic water right before use. Once reconstituted, the solution holds for 28 days at 4 °C. Steer clear of light exposure and repeated freeze-thaw.