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Updated: Jun 24, 2026

An Optimized Method for Isolating and Expanding Invariant Natural Killer T Cells from Mouse Spleen
Published on: October 29, 2015
Thymosin beta 4 enhances NK cell cytotoxicity mediated by ICAM-1
Ha-reum Lee1, Sun Young Yoon, Ho-Bum Kang
1Department of Life Science, Sookmyung Women's University, Hyochangwon-gil 52, Yongsan-gu, Seoul 140-742, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
Thymosin beta 4 (T beta 4), which is the major G-actin sequestering protein, has been shown to have ubiquitous distribution and multiple biological activities. However, T beta 4's functions in relation to natural killer(NK) cells are still unknown. In this study, we show that synthetic T beta 4 peptide increases NK cell cytotoxicity mediated by intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) through the secretion of cytolytic granules to target cells. This suggests that T beta 4 is a key activator of NK cell cytotoxicity.
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