Optimising Immune Health: Thymosin Alpha-1 Case Studies

By Tony Pemberton, Founder

Introduction: Why Immune Health Deserves Centre Stage

When people think about longevity, they often focus on cardiovascular health, glucose control, or body composition. But the immune system is arguably one of the most powerful — and most overlooked — drivers of both lifespan and healthspan.

Chronic immune dysfunction underpins accelerated ageing, increased cancer risk, recurrent infections, autoimmune disease, and poor recovery from stress. Fortunately, we now have tools that allow us to measure immune ageing with precision, rather than guessing based on symptoms alone.

This article explores how epigenetic testing, specifically TruAge and TruHealth, can be used to assess immune system ageing, how to interpret key immune markers such as the CD4/CD8 ratio, natural killer (NK) cells, and regulatory T cells (Tregs), and how targeted interventions like Thymosin Alpha-1 may help restore immune balance.

Along the way, I’ll share three real-world case studies, including my own longitudinal data, to show how these markers change in practice.

Epigenetic Testing and the Immune System

An epigenetic test measures patterns of DNA methylation — chemical tags that regulate how your genes are expressed. Unlike genetics, epigenetics is dynamic and responsive to lifestyle, stress, illness, and interventions.

Platforms such as TruDiagnostic have developed validated clocks that translate these methylation patterns into actionable health insights.

In the UK, these tests are available via our store being offical TruDiagnostic UK reseller, including:

• TruAge – focuses on biological age and pace of ageing, but also 12 immune cells

• TruHealth – provides deep insight into overall health, but also general look into immune cells

These tests are often incorporated into a broader Health MOT, offering a data-driven snapshot of how your body is actually functioning, rather than how it “should” be functioning for your chronological age.

Key Immune Markers That Matter

CD4/CD8 Ratio: The Cornerstone of Immune Ageing

The CD4/CD8 ratio reflects the balance between helper T cells (CD4+) and cytotoxic T cells (CD8+).

• A normal ratio (roughly 1.0–4.0) is associated with immune resilience

• A low or inverted ratio is linked to immune senescence, chronic inflammation, infection risk, and increased mortality

In TruHealth, this marker is contextualised against population percentiles, making it far more informative than a simple lab reference range.

Naïve vs Memory T Cells

• Naïve T cells reflect immune reserve and adaptability

• Memory T cells increase with age and chronic antigen exposure

A loss of naïve T cells is one of the hallmarks of immune ageing and is commonly seen in chronic stress, viral burden, and with certain longevity drugs.

Natural Killer (NK) Cells

NK cells play a crucial role in:

• Viral defence

• Cancer surveillance

• Removing senescent and damaged cells

Interestingly, interventions often used for longevity — such as rapamycin — can suppress NK cell activity in some individuals. There is also evidence that TRT may negatively influence NK cell numbers or function in certain contexts.

This makes monitoring NK cells particularly important for people actively pursuing longevity optimisation.

Regulatory T Cells (Tregs)

Tregs are essential for immune tolerance and inflammation control. Too few can predispose to autoimmunity; too many may suppress immune surveillance.

A balanced Treg population is associated with reduced chronic inflammation and better immune regulation — something epigenetic testing can help quantify.

Case Study 1: Alopecia Universalis and Immune Dysregulation

The first case involves an individual with alopecia universalis, an autoimmune condition.

• CD4/CD8 ratio: ~44th percentile

• Multiple immune markers flagged as suboptimal

Following targeted immune support, including Thymosin Alpha-1, several markers moved toward more favourable ranges, suggesting improved immune regulation rather than broad immune suppression.

This case highlights an important principle: autoimmune disease is often a sign of immune imbalance, not simply an “overactive” immune system.

Case Study 2: Male 55.9 years

This individual presents with a CD4/CD8 ratio around the 47th percentile, which is an excellent result for his age group and strongly indicative of preserved immune balance.

Key highlights:

• CD4/CD8 ratio (~47th percentile): Well within the optimal range, suggesting low immune senescence risk and good T‑cell balance.

• Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR): Favourable, indicating low systemic inflammation and good stress resilience.

• Lymphocyte profile: Stable and well regulated, supporting effective adaptive immunity.

A notable factor here is the regular use of Thymosin Alpha‑1, which is likely contributing to maintained T‑cell signalling, immune coordination, and protection against age‑related immune drift.

Overall, this profile reflects robust immune health for age, with no clear signs of premature immune ageing.

Case Study 3: Female 64.5 years

This case demonstrates what well‑preserved immune architecture can look like in later life optimising the immune system using Thymosin Alpha‑1, on top of comprehensive supporting supplement list.

• CD4/CD8 ratio (~53rd percentile): An excellent result for a woman in her mid‑60s, placing her comfortably above population averages and indicating strong immune equilibrium.

• Naïve CD4 T cells: Particularly impressive, reflecting a high naïve CD4 pool.

High naïve CD4 T‑cell levels at this age are strongly suggestive of:

• A well‑functioning thymus gland

• Minimal thymic involution

• Strong capacity for immune adaptation to new pathogens

This is rarely seen beyond midlife and is one of the most encouraging immune signals on epigenetic testing. It implies not just preserved immunity, but youthful immune potential.

Taken together, this case highlights how immune ageing is not inevitable, and that thymic preservation is achievable well into later decades.

My Own Immune Data (July 24th 2025)

In July 2025, my TruAge results showed:

• Low CD4/CD8 ratio

• Declining NK cell percentile

• Reduced naïve T cell populations

At the time, this coincided with:

• Ongoing rapamycin use

• A prolonged break from thymic peptides

• High training volume and metabolic stress

Despite strong overall health, the immune data suggested creeping immune senescence — something that would not have been obvious without epigenetic testing.

Follow-Up Results (November 10th): Signs of Emerging Immune Stress

By November 10th, my TruHealth immune markers showed a clear deterioration compared to earlier results, prompting a reassessment of my immune support strategy.

Several key changes stood out:

• CD4/CD8 ratio: Declined significantly, moving deeper into a low percentile range. A falling CD4/CD8 ratio is one of the most reliable indicators of immune ageing and early immunosenescence, particularly when the trend worsens over time rather than remaining stable.

• Naïve CD4 T cells: Dropped further, suggesting reduced thymic output and declining immune adaptability. Given that I had not used the thymic peptide Thymalin since February, this pattern is consistent with progressive thymic involution rather than an acute immune event.

• Natural Killer (NK) cells: Continued to trend downward. This is especially relevant in the context of longevity interventions, as rapamycin is known to suppress NK cell activity in some individuals. When combined with TRT, this effect may be amplified, potentially contributing to reduced immune surveillance.

• Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR): Rose into the 92nd percentile, indicating increased physiological stress. Importantly, this rise did not coincide with illness or infection. Instead, it aligns with a period of very high training volume, frequent maximal efforts, and repeated personal bests, all of which can elevate NLR via stress-mediated immune shifts.

Notably, regulatory T cells (Tregs) remained relatively stable and did not show meaningful movement, suggesting that the issue was not immune overactivation or autoimmune signalling, but rather immune depletion and stress-related suppression.

Taken together, these November 10th results point toward early immune senescence driven by cumulative physiological stress, pharmacological trade-offs, and prolonged absence of thymic support. This was the primary reason for my decision to reintroduce thymic peptides, including Thymosin Alpha-1, with the goal of restoring immune balance, resilience, and long-term immune capacity.

Thymosin Alpha-1: A Targeted Immune Modulator

Thymosin Alpha-1 (TA-1) is a thymic peptide with decades of clinical use.

Key properties include:

• Enhancing T cell maturation

• Improving CD4/CD8 balance

• Supporting NK cell function

• Reducing chronic inflammation

Unlike many supplements, TA-1 has been studied in:

• Viral infections

• Cancer adjunct therapy

• Autoimmune disease

• Age-related immune decline

In my own protocol, I typically cycle thymic peptides every six months. The decline in immune markers seen during prolonged breaks strongly suggests an association between peptide withdrawal and reduced immune resilience.

Lifestyle Factors That Quietly Undermine Immunity

Epigenetic testing often reveals immune stressors people underestimate, including:

• Chronic caloric restriction

• Excessive endurance training

• Poor sleep consistency

• Psychological stress

• Vitamin D and zinc deficiencies

• Certain nutrients and amino acid deficiencies

• Certain pharmacological longevity strategies

Without measurement, it’s easy to assume these are “working” simply because other biomarkers look good.

Why TruAge and TruHealth Matter

TruAge and TruHealth don’t just tell you how old you are biologically — they show why.

By integrating immune markers into a broader Health MOT, these tests allow:

• Early detection of immune ageing

• Safer use of longevity interventions

• Personalised immune optimisation strategies

For anyone serious about long-term health, this level of insight is becoming non-negotiable.

Final Thoughts

Immune ageing is silent — until it isn’t.

Epigenetic testing through an officially recognised TruDiagnostic UK practitioner, using TruAge and TruHealth, provides one of the most advanced ways currently available to quantify immune system health.

When combined with intelligent interventions like Thymosin Alpha-1, lifestyle optimisation, and periodic reassessment, it becomes possible not just to slow ageing — but to actively restore immune resilience.

If longevity is the goal, the immune system is no longer optional to measure.

Disclaimer

The thymic peptides referenced in this article, including Thymosin Alpha-1, were sourced personally by the author from Peptides of London, selected due to their provision of up-to-date independent testing for purity and microbial safety. This reference is provided for transparency only and does not constitute a recommendation, endorsement, or medical advice.

Any client results discussed are shared voluntarily by those individuals, based on peptides they chose to source and use under their own initiative.

Epic Genetics does not prescribe, recommend, supply, or advise on the use of peptides or other prescription-only substances.

The information presented is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as medical guidance. Individuals are responsible for their own health decisions and should consult an appropriately qualified healthcare professional before using any pharmacological or peptide-based interventions.