Amniotic Fluid Thymosin α1 Levels Increase During Gestation

ABSTRACT: Thymosin α₁ is one of several cytokines produced by the thymus that modulates immune function. The presence of elevated serum levels of thymosin α₁ in pregnant women and their newborns has suggested that this peptide may play a role in perinatal immunology. In this investigation, we used a microenzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to assay amniotic fluid for immunoreactive thymosin α₁ and found levels that were remarkably higher than newborn serum levels (P < 10^?4). The increase of thymosin α₁ in amniotic fluid with fetal age was natural logarithmic (r = 0.838, P < 10^?6). Thymosin α₁ in amniotic fluid may account for some of the immunologic properties of this medium.