Essentially, there is no difference between the two molecules. They are identical in structure and function. That is, both are composed of 43 amino acids in like sequence and exert the same powerful effects on healing and recovery.
The only difference between TB 500 and Thymosin Beta 4 is that the latter is produced by the thymus gland in the body, and the former is produced synthetically in the lab.
Consequently, distinction is only absolutely necessary when distinguishing between the endogenous molecule vs. the synthetic peptide that has been administered exogenously. Therefore, we use both names interchangeably throughout this site unless making a specific distinction between that produced by the thymus and that produced through synthetic means, as all effects are identical.
It is important to note that all clinical studies performed have been done so with the full 43 amino acid compound, whether synthetic or naturally produced. As of the time of this writing, there have not been any clinical studies performed on the effectiveness of any truncated (shortened) versions of the thymus protein.
Thymosin Beta 4 and the Thymus Gland
Thymosin is the hormone of the thymus gland. The thymus is located in the upper anterior chest region, between the lungs and behind the sternum. Weighing only around one ounce at peak development, the thymus has 2 lobes and is gray-pink in color.
Interestingly, the thymus fully functions only until puberty. Then, it begins to shrink, and the gland begins to be replaced by fatty tissue. By old age, the thymus gland has essentially disappeared, with only fatty tissue in its place.
The thymus gland is critical in developing a healthy immune system in childhood. It stimulates the production of white blood cells into T cells and develops crucial defenses against autoimmunity (when the immune system attacks the body). TB4 is vital for the development and production of lymphocytes into T cells and is a crucial part of the immune and endocrine systems.
Although the thymus shrinks and naturally loses function around puberty, by this time it has produced all the body’s T cells. Additionally, various Thymosin proteins, including TB4, continue to circulate throughout the body, exerting numerous biological effects. Other significant proteins include Tβ10, Tβ15, and Tα1.
However, TB4 has garnered the greatest clinical interest for its healing, protective, and regenerative potential.
TB-500 Vs. Thymosin Beta-4
As Thymosin-Beta-4 endures far beyond the dissolution of the thymus, it is able to continue to exert its powerful healing effects despite the functional decline of the gland in which it was created.
Studies have continually shown that thymosin molecules are found in higher concentrations in areas of tissue damage and injury. This is because they are drawn to wounded tissues in order to stimulate and facilitate healing and regeneration of wounds.
Likewise, when TB-500 is administered to animal subjects, researchers have consistently observed a virtually identical effect. That is, the synthetically produced peptide is drawn to areas of injury, especially to damaged musculoskeletal tissue, where it stimulates recovery through angiogenesis, actin upregulation, stem cell mobilization, and more.
The result? A virtually identical recuperative response is seen when observing the effects of Thymosin Beta 4 vs. TB-500 in wound healing.
Accordingly, synthetically manufactured TB-500 shares an identical molecular structure with the natural thymosin peptide produced endogenously. Since this structure essentially determines its functional role, it is of little surprise that there is virtually no difference between the effects of the two molecules.
Editor's Note
Although there are examples of other synthetic peptides exerting similar effects to their natural counterparts with a shortened molecular structure, this has not been proven to be the case with thymosin beta-4.
Certainly, there have been numerous studies conducted on various facets of the healing processes facilitated by TB-500. Critically, however, this research has only been performed with the full 43 amino acid compound that is identical to the molecule naturally produced by the thymus gland.
As a result, at the time of this writing any healing claims regarding TB4 with a synthetically shortened molecular structure are likely unsubstantiated.