A scientific paper published by G. Sosne et. al., was the first to report that Tβ4 could prevent apoptosis in corneal epithelial cells, apparently by protecting those cells when exposed to a caustic material or injury. Additional experiments by Sosne and others, confirmed these results. Subsequently, I. Bock-Marquette et. al., found similar results in laboratory rodents that had an induced myocardial infarction (heart attack). Their results showed that in these animals, both cardiac function and muscle were preserved compared to placebo, most likely by preventing apoptosis resulting from ischemia. Further, in vitro studies showed that when Tβ4 was administered to cardiomyocytes (cardiac cells), the cells lived 28 days - twice as long as the control group.