OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of thymosin β4 (TB4) on wound healing after tooth extraction in rats.
STUDY DESIGN: After extraction of the rats' mandibular first molar teeth, a synthetic partial peptide of TB4 was injected intraperitoneally at the time of extraction and every day thereafter for 6 days. Control subjects for the treatment received identical amounts of phosphate-buffered saline solution in the same manner. Histologic analysis, apoptosis assay, and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction were performed.
RESULTS: The overall data showed that TB4 treatment suppressed apoptosis and inflammation; it accelerated the process of wound healing, including new bone formation.
CONCLUSIONS: The findings demonstrated not only the usefulness of the TB4 partial peptide in wound healing of tooth extraction sockets, but also its potential application for bone regeneration and osteogenesis in bone and bone-related tissues.