Image: ©iStock/aleksandarvelasevic

(03/05/2026) Central Texas VA researchers found a small protein called Thymosin ß4 (Tß4) could strengthen and protect the blood-brain barrier from the hypoxia (low oxygen) damage caused by traumatic brain injury (TBI). The blood-brain barrier is a semi-permeable membrane that protects the central nervous system from pathogens and toxins. Hypoxia and TBI can disrupt this barrier and lead to problems with brain function. The researchers exposed lab-grown human brain-barrier cells pretreated with Tß4 to low-oxygen conditions, and found treating cells with Tß4 largely restored the levels of proteins maintaining the barrier structure. The results suggest Tβ4 could be a promising therapeutic candidate for protecting the blood-brain barrier during TBI, stroke, and other conditions that lead to hypoxia. (Scientific Reports, Dec. 1, 2025)