Thymosin beta4 induces adult epicardial progenitor mobilization and neovascularization

Smart N, Risebro CA, Melville AA, Moses K, Schwartz RJ, Chien KR, Riley PR · Nature

Tβ4 was required for coronary vessel development, and it drove quiescent adult epicardial explants to produce fibroblasts, smooth muscle and endothelial cells; knockdown cut the pro-angiogenic Tβ4 cleavage product Ac-SDKP.

Population

Mouse embryos and adult epicardial explants

Intervention

Thymosin β4 treatment; Tβ4 knockdown

Comparator

Untreated explants and wild-type embryos

Limitations

Developmental and explant work in mice; establishes a vascular role for endogenous Tβ4 rather than a therapeutic effect of injecting it.