Strengthening Your Immune System with Peptide Therapy

What is Peptide Therapy?

Peptides are made of short chains of amino acids. They can be thought of as a small protein. They bind to receptors on the cell surface and tell other cells and molecules what to do. There are over 7,000 known peptides in our bodies which direct an enormous number of different bodily functions ranging from hormone production, tissue and muscle repair, immune modulation, brain and central nervous system health, weight loss, inflammation reduction, DNA repair and can have direct antimicrobial effects. Peptide therapy, or the use of specific peptides in treatment, has gained great popularity in recent years due to its extraordinary high level of safety and uniquely specific effects. As we age, our production of our own peptides decreases. As a result, our bodies begin to show signs of aging and cease to perform at an optimal level.

Can Peptides Help Strengthen the Immune System?

Yes! One peptide in particular, Thymosin Alpha-1 (TA-1) is showing impressive results in helping strengthen the immune system. Thymosin Alpha-1 is a peptide originally isolated from thymus gland as the compound responsible for restoring immune function. The thymus is located in the upper anterior (front) part of your chest directly behind your sternum and between your lungs. The thymus is responsible for regulating the immune system. As a person’s immune function wears down it leaves the body more vulnerable to illness. TA-1 is prescribed to optimize the performance of your immune health and improve general wellness by preventing viral and bacterial infections.

Thymosin Alpha-1 is responsible for restoring the immune system function as it activates various immune T cells, the first line of defense in the body. T-cells come in two forms: killer and helper cells. Killer T-cells are responsible for hunting down and destroying our body’s own cells that are cancerous or infected with bacteria or viruses. TA-1 is thought to modulate the immune system by augmenting killer T-cell function.

Clinical benefits are expected in disorders where the immune response is impaired or ineffective, especially for patients with chronic infections or auto-immune conditions.

In 2009, a novel influenza A/California/07/09 (A/H1N1v) virus, was first identified in the United States. It caused outbreaks of disease in several countries, triggering the first pandemic of the 21st century.

Thymosin Alpha-1 peptide was tested during that time as an immune enhancing peptide that potentiated the efficacy of viral vaccines especially in patients who had a weakened immune system. It has since been used in the treatment of several cancer and viral infections because of its direct influence of killing virally infected cells and cancerous cells.

What are the Benefits of Thymosin Alpha-1?

• Shores up the immune system

• Supports the immune system in chronic bacterial or viral infections

• Potential additive therapy for Lyme disease and autoimmunity

• Supports anti-body production to virus’s

• Repair after acute injury or surgery

• Suppression of tumor growth

TA-1 is one of our core peptides used in our immune enhancement program along with Thymosin Beta-4 (another thymus peptide). These thymus-based peptides help restore the immune system and reduce inflammation. In these uncertain times, in the presence of COVID-19, it is imperative that we shore up our immune system so that we may feel strong and safe and live the life we were meant to live.

Peptides must be used in conjunction with a healthy lifestyle and may be paired with other holistic treatments to get the maximum physical benefit. If you are interested in discussing if peptide therapy may be right for you, call us for a complimentary consultation.

Dr. James Dickens, MD and Dr. Niele Maimone, DC are the owners of Aspire Regenerative Medicine, a medical corporation, that runs alongside Align Healing Center to offer a broader range of services addressing people’s wellness needs.