This submit experiences on the end result of a self-experiment with three of the Khavinson peptides (epitalon, thymogen, and vilon) and the complement melatonin in an try to provide thymic regrowth. There’s proof in animals for a few of these peptides to provide thymic regrowth, in addition to proof for a few of these peptides (thymogen notably) to cut back mortality in previous human sufferers. All of this comes from the Russian analysis neighborhood, nonetheless, and unique sources should not all that accessible. Actually, no-one has checked to see whether or not the thymus is regrown in people following remedy with these peptides.
Thymic regrowth is a fascinating aim, a solution to restore immune perform in older individuals who have misplaced some, most, or the entire energetic thymic tissue wanted for the manufacturing of naive T cells. The lack of this provide of recent T cells is a crucial element within the age-related decline of the immune system. Thus it appears well worth the effort to assemble knowledge on this entrance. Final yr I posted a research define for a self-experiment with Khavinson peptides, and this yr I’ve a report from one adventurous self-experimenter, utilizing a extra aggressive model of that research protocol.
Examine Define
Primarily based on the printed define, this was a nine-month research. On every of the primary ten days of each month, a mixture of 10mg epitalon, 10mg thymogen, and 10mg vilon in was injected subcutaneously. This was cut up between two injections 12 hours aside, morning and night.
This research included using a excessive dose (20mg every day) of melatonin along with Khavinson peptides, on the premise that there’s good security knowledge for melatonin, and a single research has proven a rise in thymic tissue ensuing from supplementation with melatonin on the equal dose in mice. That is a wholly speculative addition, however years of knowledge on melatonin use suggests no significant draw back at this dose. The 20mg of melatonin have been taken orally within the night, which differs from the mouse research, by which melatonin was provided in ingesting water.
A CT scan of the thymus was taken earlier than and after the research. A whole blood depend assay was used to evaluate lymphocyte:monocyte ratio earlier than and after the research. That could be a quantity that turns into decrease with age, and which ought to enhance if the thymus is extra somewhat than much less energetic. Ideally an assay to measure latest thymic emigrants would have been included, however was not. Current thymic emigrants are T cells just lately emerged from the thymus, inside the previous few weeks.
Topic Particulars
The topic for the self-experiment was within the 45-55 age vary, wholesome and with out power situations, with a BMI of ~22 all through the period of the experiment. Weight loss program and train have been described as “comparatively constant” throughout the research period. I really feel that one ought to at all times be comparatively skeptical of that kind of declare, nonetheless, regardless of how formal or casual the research.
Outcomes
CT photographs of the thymus confirmed a visual discount in energetic tissue throughout the 9 months of the research, the alternative of the hoped end result. Within the picture under, paired cross-sections by means of the chest are proven, earlier than on the left, after on the precise. For steerage on studying CT scans of the thymus, check with “Regular Thymus in Adults: Look on CT and Associations with Age, Intercourse, BMI and Smoking“. In a cross-section of the chest, as under, and as within the examples given in that paper, the thymus is the triangular patchy gray construction nearer to the highest of the picture, instantly under the sternum (white). Areas of fats will seem darkish within the vary chosen right here, and thus a extra atrophied thymus, by which extra energetic tissue is changed with fats, will seem darker. By late life, the thymus is solely darkish, fatty.
There was no significant change in lymphocyte:monocyte ratio. Over 4 years of full blood depend knowledge previous to this research, leukocyte:monocyte ratio diversified from 4.4 to six.5, with no specific development. In three measures after the research, leukocyte:monocyte ratio was 5.8, 6.0, and 4.0.
Conclusion
Use of the Khavinson peptides and melatonin together on this means, at this dose, negatively impacts the thymus, producing a discount in energetic tissue and enhance in atrophy to fatty tissue. The diploma to which this atrophy occurred is larger than one would count on to happen over 9 months of growing old at this stage of life.
Why did this end result happen, given the animal research exhibiting thymic regrowth, and the research exhibiting diminished later life mortality following use of thymogen? We will solely speculate. Firstly, the dose makes the poison, and the dosing right here might have been too excessive, too frequent. In one of many human research, testing thymogen solely, dosing for ten days occurred just one each six months, somewhat than month-to-month as right here. Secondly, it might be that these peptides are pleiotropic of their impact on the thymus, and solely helpful after the thymus may be very atrophied. Thirdly, it might be that in people any profit to using Khavinson peptides arises from elevated peripheral T cell replication in helpful populations, reminiscent of naive T cells. This could possibly be helpful on stability in late life, permitting larger resistance to an infection, even when it pushes the affected person additional in the direction of the buildup of senescent and exhausted T cells. Lastly, the present research knowledge for Khavinson peptides related to this train might merely be doubtful, unsuitable, or in any other case dangerous.
