A Breakthrough in Immune System Support
At Humanset, we're passionate about empowering immune health through the power of Thymic Protein A (TPA). But what exactly is TPA, and how does it work? Let's delve into the science behind this remarkable immune system regulator.
A Visual Guide
How TPA Supports T-Cell Development
T cells are essential components of your immune system, acting as vigilant defenders against foreign invaders. These remarkable cells originate from stem cells within the bone marrow, which give rise to progenitor T cells and then embark on a critical journey to the thymus gland.
The thymus, a small organ located behind your breastbone, serves as a training ground for immature T cells. Within the thymus, they undergo a complex maturation process, learning to distinguish between the body's own cells and external threats. This education ensures that mature T cells can effectively target and eliminate threats without harming healthy tissues.
Interestingly, not all progenitor T cells reach the thymus. Some escape into the periphery, the body's tissues and organs outside the thymus. Similarly, some immature CD4 cells may also leave the thymus before completing their training. These cells circulate throughout the body, potentially playing a role in immune surveillance.
A healthy and functional thymus is crucial for maintaining a robust immune system. It ensures the continuous production of a well-trained army of T cells, ready to defend your body against a wide range of health challenges. So how does the thymus help grow and mature this army of cells?
Within the thymus, immature T cells undergo a remarkable transformation, guided by a unique protein called Thymic Protein A (TPA). This protein plays a crucial role in activating and maturing these cells, preparing them for their vital functions within the immune system.
TPA binds to specific receptors on the surface of immature CD4 cells, triggering a cascade of signals that initiate the maturation process. This activation, driven exclusively by TPA, is essential for the development of fully functional CD4 T cells, which play diverse parts in orchestrating and regulating immune responses.
Mature CD4 T cells differentiate into various subtypes, each with specialized functions. These include Regulatory T cells, which help maintain immune balance, Memory T cells, which allow for faster future responses, and Helper T cells, which assist other immune cells (like CD8 Killer cells) in their fight against aberrant cells.
This intricate process of T cell maturation within the thymus highlights the remarkable orchestration of the immune system and the vital contribution of TPA in ensuring its proper function. But what happens when the thymus, this essential training ground for T cells, begins to decline with age?
As we age, the thymus gland, once a vibrant hub of T cell production, gradually undergoes a process known as involution. This natural decline begins around puberty and continues throughout adulthood, leading to a decrease in the size and functionality of the thymus.
With a diminished thymus, the production of new T cells slows, and the overall population of these vital immune defenders declines. By age 65, we are essentially unable to produce new T cells, leaving the immune system less equipped to respond to new threats and maintain optimal immune functionality.
Despite the shrinking thymus, progenitor T cells continue to emerge from the bone marrow. However, without a functional thymus to guide their maturation, these cells, along with immature CD4 cells, are left to circulate in the periphery without undergoing the necessary process to mature, and effectively combat foreign invaders.
This age-related decline in thymic function underscores the importance of supporting immune health throughout life. What, if anything, can anything be done to bolster the immune system and compensate for the diminishing supply of T cells as we age?
While the thymus gland plays the starring role as the body’s built-in T cell manufacturer, this process is not limited to the thymus alone. Even as we age, the body retains the capacity to generate new T cells, if only it had access to more Thymic Protein A (TPA).
Humanset's TPA supplements provide a bioidentical form of this vital protein, making it readily available to progenitor T cells and immature CD4 cells circulating throughout the body’s periphery.
Upon entering the bloodstream, our naturally-occurring TPA binds to the CD4 receptors, driving their maturation into fully functional T cells. This process enables the body to replenish its supply of these crucial immune defenders, even without a functioning thymus.
Scientifically proven to support T cell maturation, Humanset's TPA offers a safe and effective way to enhance immune function and promote overall health. This proactive approach empowers individuals to maintain a robust and resilient immune system, and it’s why we like to say, Thymic Protein A is “the active ingredient for a proactive life.”
Scientific Papers and Research Studies
Access online and/or downloadable studies, reports, papers, articles and more.
Purpose: To evaluate the effects of the orally administered thymic protein A on clinical blood parameters and the subjective symptoms common to patients with chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome (CFIDS).
Studies with this patented thymic protein demonstrate enhanced immune response in the fight against cancer and chronic viral infections, as well as aging.
It is now well established that the thymic stromal microenvironment is an essential determinant in the proper development of bone marrow progenitors committed to the T-cell linage into thymocytes capable of emigrating to the peripheral lymphoid tissues as functional T lymphocytes.
This paper reports studies of human thymus remnants prepared by in vitro culture. We were able to obtain remnants which were reconstituted with host lymphocytes in the nude mouse. The grated mice developed T-cell-dependent immunologic function.
The culture supernatant from a cloned line of thymic epithelium (TEPI) is shown to enhance the response of thymocytes to alloantigen as measured by cell-mediated lympholysis.
The active protein in the oral product ProBoost was discovered by Dr. Terry Beardsley, PhD, an immunologist engaged in research on the human thymus gland.
Six patients with chronically elevated Epstein-Barr virus early antigen antibody titers were treated fro 60 days with purified Protein A from calf thymus cell culture (BPTPA). There was a statistically significant reduction of the antibody titers after treatment.
Addtional Articles
The History
A brief glimpse into the history of Thymic Protein A and how we got to where we are today.
The journey to understanding TPA began with groundbreaking research on the thymus gland in the 1960s. Scientists discovered that the thymus plays a critical role in immune function, and that certain thymic factors could restore immune responses in animals with thymus deficiencies.
This led to the isolation of "Thymosin Fraction 5," a mixture of thymic peptides that showed limited immune-stimulating activity. While promising, its complexity hindered its effectiveness. However, this discovery paved the way for the remarkable breakthrough of Thymic Protein A.
In the 1970s, Dr. Terry Beardsley, a doctoral student at Baylor College of Medicine, embarked on a mission to improve immune function using thymic extracts. He recognized the potential of isolating pure, native biomolecules directly from the thymus.
Dr. Beardsley's journey led him to UCLA, where he collaborated with renowned thymic function expert, Professor Esther Hays, M.D. Through years of dedicated research, he achieved a groundbreaking feat: establishing continuously growing cultures of thymic stromal cells – the cells responsible for producing immune-regulating substances.
Dr. Beardsley meticulously cloned each cell type to identify those responsible for immune activity. After eight years of tireless effort, he pinpointed a single, potent fraction – "Fraction A," which he named Thymic Protein A (TPA).
TPA, a complete protein comprising 500 amino acids, exhibited remarkable immune-regulating properties. It activated CD4 lymphocytes (T-helper cells) and enhanced the development of cytotoxic T-killer cells, which are crucial for eliminating infected cells.
Extensive animal studies confirmed TPA's efficacy. In a groundbreaking study, adding a small amount of TPA to a rabies vaccine increased its potency by 2.5 times, significantly improving survival rates in dogs with distemper.
Further research demonstrated TPA's potential as an immunotherapeutic agent for cats with feline AIDS, showcasing its ability to boost lymphocyte counts and improve overall well-being.
A Phase One human clinical study conducted by a major AIDS advocacy group showed promising results, with favorable responses in several patients.
Dr. Beardsley also developed a unique oral formulation of TPA that overcame the challenge of protein degradation in the stomach. This innovation paved the way for the development of Humanset's oral TPA supplements.
