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Research Reference · Tissue Repair

TB-500

The research-market name for synthetic thymosin beta-4 — a natural actin-binding protein studied in cell migration, wound healing and heart-tissue repair — and for a short fragment of it.

Last reviewed September 2026 6 peer-reviewed sources 3-minute read

At a glance

TB-500 is a supplier name, not a scientific one. It is used for synthetic thymosin beta-4 (Tβ4), a natural 43-amino-acid protein that helps cells move by controlling actin, and for a seven-amino-acid fragment of it. Research centres on cell migration, wound healing and heart-tissue repair. Most evidence is from cell and animal studies; the full-length protein has moved into clinical research for eye and skin wounds.

TypeTβ4 (43 aa) or its 17–23 fragment
Studied forCell migration & wound repair
Evidence stagePreclinical; early clinical (Tβ4)
Human dataEye & skin studies of full Tβ4 only

What it’s studied for

Cell migration & actin

Tβ4’s best-understood job is holding single actin molecules and releasing them as a cell moves. 2

Cell

Wound healing

In a rat skin-wound model Tβ4 sped wound closure, and it stimulated skin-cell migration in the lab. 3

Animal

Heart-tissue repair

In mice after a heart attack model, Tβ4 activated repair signaling and improved heart-cell survival and function. 4

Animal

Eye surface

Studied for faster corneal healing and reduced inflammation on the eye surface. 6

Animal · clinical

TB-500

TB-500 (10mg) · $49.99

Third-party tested · batch-matched COA · research use only

How it works

Thymosin beta-4 is one of the most abundant proteins inside cells. It binds single actin molecules — the building blocks cells use to change shape and move — and releases them when they are needed. 2

Because cell movement is the first step in closing a wound, researchers tested whether adding Tβ4 speeds repair. In a rat skin-wound model it did: wounds closed faster, and in a lab assay skin cells (keratinocytes) migrated two to three times faster. 3 In mice, Tβ4 activated integrin-linked kinase and Akt signaling in the heart after a coronary artery was tied off, improving early heart-cell survival and heart function. 4 Reviews trace this work into clinical studies for skin wounds, corneal injuries and heart and brain repair. 5,1

A note on the name: PubChem’s “TB-500” record is a seven-amino-acid acetylated fragment of Tβ4 (Ac-LKKTETQ, residues 17–23), while most of the literature studies the full 43-amino-acid protein. The identity of any batch is confirmed on its certificate of analysis.

Related research

Frequently asked questions

What is TB-500?
A supplier name used for synthetic thymosin beta-4 (a 43-amino-acid protein) and for a seven-amino-acid fragment of it. It is not a name used in the scientific literature.
Is TB-500 the same as thymosin beta-4?
Sometimes. PubChem’s TB-500 record is the acetylated 17–23 fragment (Ac-LKKTETQ); many suppliers use the name for the full-length protein. A batch certificate of analysis shows which one was tested.
Is TB-500 the same as BPC-157?
No. BPC-157 is a 15-amino-acid fragment of a gastric protein. The two are often studied together; the pairing is sold as our BB blend.
Has TB-500 been studied in humans?
The full-length protein has been studied clinically for eye-surface and skin wounds. We found no published human trials of the seven-amino-acid fragment.
What is the CAS number of TB-500?
PubChem lists CAS 885340-08-9 for its TB-500 record (the Ac-LKKTETQ fragment).

Identifiers

Name TB-500 (supplier name) · thymosin beta-4 (Tβ4)
PubChem “TB-500” record Acetylated Tβ4 fragment, residues 17–23
Sequence Ac-Leu-Lys-Lys-Thr-Glu-Thr-Gln-OH
Molecular formula C38H68N10O14
Molecular weight 889.0 g/mol
CAS number 885340-08-9
PubChem CID · UNII 62707662 · QHK6Z47GTG
Full-length thymosin beta-4 43 amino acids · C212H350N56O78S · 4963 g/mol (PubChem CID 45382195)
Supplied as Lyophilized (freeze-dried) powder

Identifiers checked against PubChem (CIDs 62707662 and 45382195).

Research timeline

  1. 1999Tβ4 speeds wound closure in rats and stimulates skin-cell migration. 3
  2. 2004Tβ4 activates integrin-linked kinase and supports heart-cell survival and repair in mice. 4
  3. 2005Review: an actin-binding protein that “moonlights” to repair injured tissue. 2
  4. 2012Review lays out the basis for clinical trials in skin wounds, corneal injuries and heart and brain repair. 5
  5. 2016Review of Tβ4 as a new agent for eye-surface disease. 6
  6. 2021Review of Tβ4’s functions and applications. 1

Key studies

StudyModelWhat it found
Malinda 1999 3 Rat + cell Faster wound closure; skin-cell migration 2–3× higher in a lab assay.
Bock-Marquette 2004 4 Mouse Activated ILK and Akt in the heart; better early heart-cell survival and heart function.
Goldstein 2012 5 Review Mechanisms behind clinical trials in skin, eye, heart and brain repair.
Sosne 2016 6 Review Rapid corneal re-epithelialization and reduced corneal inflammation with Tβ4.

Sources

For Research Use Only. This page summarizes published scientific research for educational purposes. It is not medical advice and does not promote, recommend, or describe any human or animal use. Products referenced are sold strictly for laboratory research and are not for human consumption.

Last reviewed September 2026 by Midwest Compounds. Every source above was checked against its original publication.