RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE Amex:RGN) ("the Company" or "RegeneRx") announced that scientists have identified a long sought-after extracellular signaling pathway and receptor for thymosin beta 4 (Tβ4). The observation that Tβ4 increases cell surface ATP (energy produced by cells), could explain its ability to protect and regenerate tissue after ischemic injury and hypoxia (oxygen deficiency). The paper, published in the FASEB Journal, November 24, 2010, also highlights Tβ4's ability to activate specific molecules on the surface of human endothelial cells that are involved in vascular reactivity, apoptosis (natural cell death) and secretion of cytokines (immunoregulatory molecules). The data further elaborate Tβ4's involvement in other diverse biological activities such as cell migration, inflammation, and angiogenesis.
"This group has found the key to addressing the multiplicity of activities of Tβ4. Since there are several molecules, called antagonists that could block this receptor, the paper will likely open up a large number of areas of research on Tβ4 to explore this activity at the cellular level. It is an important paper and the first identification and characterization of a Tβ4 receptor," stated Allan L. Goldstein, Ph.D., Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at The George Washington University School of Medicine and Founder and Chief Scientific Advisor of RegeneRx.
The paper, Regenerative Protein Thymosin β-4 is a Novel Regulator of Purinergic Signaling, was published in the FASEB Journal, November 24, 2010. The research was conducted by Drs. Kevin Freeman, Brian Bowman and Bruce Zetter of the Vascular Biology Program and Department of Surgery at The Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School. The researchers have no affiliation with RegeneRx.
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