Peptide metabolite demonstrates potent wound healing, antiviral effects

The peptide metabolite Ac-Tβ1-17, derived from the human protein Thymosin β4, was observed to exhibit antiviral activity, cell regeneration, wound healing, and angiogenesis-promoting effects. Image by the Korea Institute of Science and Technology

In a study that may reshape approaches to tissue repair, scientists at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) have developed a multifunctional peptide that significantly accelerates wound healing and tissue regeneration and also combats viral infections.

The research, published in Bioactive Materials, focuses on a peptide metabolite known as Ac-Tβ1-17. This molecule, derived from the natural degradation of thymosin β4—a protein present in the human body—demonstrated remarkable regenerative properties in laboratory studies. The study team was led by Dr. Hyung-Seop Han of the Biomaterials Research Center, Dr. Dae-Geun Song of the Center for Natural Product Systems Biology, and Dr. Oh-Seung Kwon of the Doping Control Center.

While the original thymosin β4 protein did not exhibit antiviral effects, its metabolite Ac-Tβ1-17 was found to possess strong antiviral activity against the coronavirus. Yet it is the peptide’s impact on tissue repair that has drawn particular attention. In experiments using human vascular cells, Ac-Tβ1-17 activated a cascade of biological processes essential for recovery, including cell proliferation, wound closure, angiogenesis, and the mitigation of oxidative stress. These functions are considered critical in the healing of acute and chronic wounds, as well as in the restoration of damaged tissues.

To translate these biological effects into practical therapy, the KIST team engineered a peptide-based scaffold. Scaffolds serve as frameworks that support cell growth and tissue regeneration, and are central to advances in regenerative medicine. The Ac-Tβ1-17 scaffold was shown to be highly effective in promoting tissue recovery, supporting robust cell adhesion, growth, and the formation of new blood vessels—key steps in the wound healing process.

“This study demonstrates that protein metabolites can be used not only as new drugs but also as biomaterials for tissue regeneration, confirming their potential for expansion into various biomedical applications,” said Dr. Han in a press release.

Dr. Song added, “We will continue research using natural bioactive materials to pursue practical applications in antivirals, functional biomaterials, and beyond.”

By spotlighting the regenerative potential of protein metabolites, the KIST team’s findings provide a foundation for the development of next-generation wound healing therapies, with implications for both acute injuries and chronic conditions. “The metabolite of thymosin β4 has been identified as a drug candidate through collaborative research, and we expect it to be widely applicable in this field moving forward,” Dr. Kwon noted.