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Thymopentin improves cardiac function in older patients with chronic heart failure

Cao Xiaojing1, Li Yanfang2, Guo Yanqing1

  • 1Division of Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University; Beijing-China.

Anatolian Journal of Cardiology
|August 27, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Immune modulation therapy with thymopentin improved cardiac function in older adults with chronic heart failure (CHF). This treatment regulated lymphocyte subsets and inflammatory cytokines, offering a new approach for CHF management.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Immunology
  • Geriatrics

Background:

  • Heart failure (HF) development is linked to immune system activation, inflammation, and mediator release.
  • Understanding immune system modulation's role in HF is crucial for developing effective therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if regulating lymphocyte subsets and cytokines can improve cardiac function in older patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).
  • To assess the efficacy of thymopentin in modulating immune responses and improving clinical outcomes in CHF.

Main Methods:

  • Ninety-six elderly patients with CHF were randomized into a testing group (regular therapy + thymopentin) and a control group (regular therapy).
  • Cardiac function (LVEF, LVEDD, LVESD), inflammatory markers (hsCRP, BNP), exercise capacity (6MWT), quality of life (MLHFQ), lymphocyte subsets (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, NK cells), and cytokines (IL-10, TNF-α, IL-1β) were measured.
  • A group of 45 healthy elderly individuals served as normal controls.

Main Results:

  • Thymopentin treatment significantly increased left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), 6-minute walking distance (6MWT), CD3+, CD4+ T cells, natural killer cells, and IL-10 levels.
  • The treatment group showed significant reductions in brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) scores, CD8+ T cells, TNF-α, and IL-1β.
  • While left ventricular end-diastole (LVEDD) and end-systole (LVESD) diameters decreased in the treatment group, the difference between groups was not statistically significant.

Conclusions:

  • Immune modulation therapy, specifically using thymopentin, effectively improves cardiac function in elderly patients with CHF.
  • Thymopentin therapy helps regulate key lymphocyte subsets and inflammatory cytokine profiles, suggesting a beneficial immunomodulatory effect in CHF.
  • These findings support immune modulation as a therapeutic strategy for improving outcomes in older adults with chronic heart failure.
Abstract

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