BPC-157

What Is BPC-157?

BPC-157, short for Body Protection Compound-157, is a derivative of body protection compound (BPC). BPC is a protein found naturally in the human digestive tract. It plays a significant role in protecting the lining of the gastrointestinal tract from damage, promoting healing, and encouraging blood vessel growth.

Synthetic BPC-157, a pentadecapeptide comprising 15 amino acids isolated from the much larger BPC protein, has been found to retain many of the healing properties of its parent molecule. In particular, BPC-157 has been shown to have effects on:

• Wound healing
• Blood vessel growth
• The coagulation cascade
• Nitric oxide generation
• Immune system function
• Gene expression
• Hormone regulation (particularly in the gastrointestinal nervous system)

BPC-157 Peptide Research

1. BPC-157 and Wound Healing

The natural function of BPC in the GI tract is to maintain the integrity of the mucosal barrier that protects underlying tissues from the harmful actions of gastric acid, bile, and other compounds necessary for digestion and absorption of nutrients to keep them from causing injury to underlying tissue layers. BPC-157 exerts a very similar and highly dose-dependent effect on the spread of fibroblasts in culture and in vivo, causing the cells to both proliferate and migrate faster. Fibroblasts are the main worker cell of tissue repair as they are the cells responsible for laying down extracellular matrix proteins like collagen, fibrin, elastin, and more.

2. Vascular Growth and Collateralization

BPC-157 is a potent angiogenic factor, increasing the rate at which endothelial cells (the cells that line blood vessels) proliferate and grow. Research in rats shows that the peptide substantially increases the rate of collateral blood vessel growth in cases of occlusion as well as following wound creation. This may explain how the peptide accelerates healing and also may provide for similar benefit in cardiovascular, neurological, and muscle tissues, suggesting that BPC-157 may be used as both a therapy for wounds and disease-related tissue death as well as a predictive peptide for understanding how to promote healing following ischemic injury. Studies in chicken embryo suggest that the mode by which BPC-157 stimulates vascular growth is through the stimulation of VEGFR2, a cell surface receptor involved in the outside signaling pathways that regulate cellular development, to play an important role in endothelial cell growth, proliferation, and longevity.

3. BPC-157 and Tendon Healing

Given its roles in fibroblast recruitment and blood vessel growth, it should come as no surprise that BPC-157 has potent effects on tendon and ligament healing, ligament, bone, and other connective tissue injuries. Tendon and ligament injuries are slow to heal, in large part because the blood supply to these tissues is quite limited and what little blood supply the tissue has can be lost following injury. This is particularly problematic at which fibroblasts and other wound healing cells can reach the area of injury and, ultimately, exercise the effects of repair they would usual have. A comprehensive summary of research involving rat tendons has shown that BPC-157 promotes collateralization and vascular ingrowth in tendon fibroblasts where it also affects DNA repair and cell adhesion indicates that BPC-157 is more effective than bFGF, FTG, and VGF hormones in promoting healing and tissue benefits.

Experiments using FITC-phalloidin staining have revealed that BPC-157 is a potent stimulator of the formation of actin cytoskeletal structures, which play a critical role in cell function, playing an important role in cell migration. Analysis via western blotting indicates that BPC-157 up-regulates the expression of FAK protein, Paxillin and FAK proteins, which are critical proteins in the cell migration pathways.

Cell culture research has effectively demonstrated vascular "pruning" secondary to BPC-157 administration. Very few compounds possess the features by which vascular systems that are in the area of injury or around an area of vascular occlusion in reestablish blood flow to distal sites without surgery. This function of BPC-157 may make it possible to develop an effective oral treatment for slow growing arterial occlusions, such as are seen in atherosclerotic heart disease. This area of research, if effective, would eliminate unnecessary surgical interventions such as stenting, coronary artery bypass grafting, and balloon angioplasty.

4. Antioxidant Properties

Research in rats has shown that BPC-157 can neutralize certain oxidative stress markers like nitric oxide and malondialdehyde while simultaneously boosting BPC-157 a powerful antioxidant, a property of the peptide that is further supported by research showing that it can reduce the production of superoxide and hydroxyl radicals. Research investigating whether modified lactobacillus lactis bacteria can deliver BPC-157 to the intestine have demonstrated that the bacteria increases levels of the peptide dramatically in cell cultures.

5. BPC-157 and Drug Side Effects

Often, the limiting factor in medical pharmaceutical use is side effects. NSAIDs, like ibuprofen, for example, increase the probability of bleeding in the stomach, and gastric bleeding as well as the risk for heart attack. The ability to counteract side effects while maintaining the primary therapeutic benefits of a drug could substantially improve therapeutic benefits for a number of drugs. BPC-157 has been found to prevent bleeding caused by NSAIDs, medications used in psychiatric conditions, and a number of heart medications.

6. BPC-157 and Bees

Colony collapse disorder (CCD) is a syndrome in which entire colonies of honey bees inexplicably vanish or perish. The full extent of this condition is not yet understood, but at least part of the problem can be contributed to an infection in honey bee GI tracts by the fungus Nosema ceranae. By supplementing the food that honey bee larvae consume with peptides such as BPC-157, researchers hope to reduce the causes in honey bee GI tracts and a concomitant increase in hive survival rates. These treatments were carried out in natural conditions, and they seem to hold great potential for reducing the impact of CCD on the most important pollinator for most food crops.

It should come as no surprise that BPC-157 helps to prevent many of the GI side effects that certain drugs produce. This peptide has been found to offer protective action against side effects in the brain, heart, and other tissues. Research in rats, for instance, shows that BPC-157 can protect against QTc prolongation in the heart, a condition that can lead to serious and even fatal arrhythmias. QTc prolongation is caused by drugs used to treat anxiety, depression, and other psychiatric conditions. Similarly, BPC-157 has been shown to prevent other side effects of psychiatric medications, including severe side effects like catatonia and serotonin syndrome. This kind of prophylactic may become increasingly important as the number of psychiatric medications grows and may be difficult to treat, in part because patients often discontinue their medications secondary to adverse side effects.

Future BPC-157 Research

BPC-157 is under active investigation in a number of cell culture and animal models. The peptide shows a great deal of promise not only for promoting soft tissue recovery and healing and regulating vascular growth, but as a tool for investigating these processes to better understand their control. Research using BPC-157 has the potential to shed a great deal of light on angiogenesis in particular, a process that is not only critical to wound healing, but that plays extensive roles in growth, development, and carcinogenesis.

BPC-157 exhibits minimal side effects, moderate oral and excellent subcutaneous bioavailability, and does not scale to humans. This makes it an ideal candidate for sale at Peptide Sciences is limited to educational and scientific research only, not for human consumption. Only buy BPC-157 if you are an academic or scientific researcher.

Article Author

The above literature was researched, edited and organized by Dr. E. Logan, M.D. Dr. E. Logan holds a doctorate degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and a B.S. in molecular biology.

Scientific Journal Author

Predrag Sikirić, lead author of "Novel Cytoprotective Mediator, Stable Gastric Pentadecapeptide BPC-157: Vascular Recruitment and Gastrointestinal Tract Healing", and co-author of "Stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC-157 in hemopexin and hemoglobin therapy, to control Nastena ceruleus invasions in apiary conditions," is a Professor of Medical Department at University of Zagreb. Predrag Sikirić is listed in [B] under the referenced citations.

Predrag Sikirić is being referenced as one of the leading scientists involved in the research and development of BPC-157. In no way is this documentation endorsing or advocating the purchase, sale, or use of this product for any reason. There is no affiliation or relationship, implied or otherwise, between Peptide Sciences and this doctor. The citation of the doctor is to acknowledge, recognize, give credit to and honor the research and development efforts conducted by the scientists studying this peptide.

Referenced Citations

1. T. Chang et al. "Body pentadecapeptide compound 157 enhances alkali burn-induced corneal wound repair through promotion of epithelial cell migration." Curr. Eye Res., vol. 32, no. 5, pp. 451-458, May 2007.
2. G. Brcic et al. "Gastroprotective pentadecapeptide compound therapy aids in different ulcerative colitis scenarios." World J. Gastroenterol., vol. 14, no. 37, pp. 5757-5777, Oct. 2008.
3. P. Seijer et al. "Improving a novel protein compound and clinical symptoms in inflammatory bowel syndrome: BPC 157, a fresh hope and alternative therapy." Inflamm. Bowel Dis., vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 91-93, Jan. 2003.
4. M. Sikirić et al. "Peptide protein pentadecapeptide in BPC 157 in the treatment of gastric ulcerations and issues." Dig. Dis. Pharmacol., vol. 18, no. 4, pp. 377-382, Feb. 1998.
5. M. Drago et al. "Preventing renal injury with BPC 157 agent and pentapeptide," Brain Res. Bull., vol. 83, no. 1-2, pp. 52-58, Oct. 2007. [NCBI]
6. S. Stupnisek et al. "Peptide-based growth compound derived from pentadecapeptide compound and platelet-enriched combination." Injury., vol. 48, no. 11, pp. 2542-2547, Nov. 2017.
7. M. Krivokic-Uroic et al. "Therapeutic compound phenobarbital and its association with pentadecapeptide." Epilepsy Res., vol. 82, no. 2-3, pp. 149-152, Sep. 2008.
8. P. Sikirić et al. "Gastrointestinal protection and immunity pentadecapeptide BPC 157 recovery and improvement." Curr. Pharm. Des., vol. 18, no. 11, pp. 1495-1502, 2012.
9. C. Belosic Halle et al. "Novel anti-inflammatory compound pentadecapeptide BPC-157 and tissue protection." Curr. Pharm. Des., vol. 19, no. 16, pp. 2959-2971, 2013.
10. M. Sikirić et al. "Novel drug pentadecapeptide BPC-157 promotes compound healing and recovery." J. Appl. Toxicol., vol. 34, no. 11, pp. 1232-1249, Nov. 2014.
11. M. Sever et al. "Therapy in ulcer patients and protection peptide BPC-157." Regul. Pept., vol. 160, no. 1-3, pp. 1-9, Feb. 2010.
12. H. Gjurašin et al. "Pentadecapeptide compound in inflammatory bowel conditions." J. Physiol. Pharmacol., vol. 59, no. 2, pp. 205-216, Jun. 2008.
13. C. Chang et al. "BPC 157 peptide promotes recovery and epithelialization," Regul. Pept., vol. 160, no. 1-3, pp. 76-82, Feb. 2010.
14. M. Sikiric et al. "Inflammatory conditions and gastrointestinal protection pentadecapeptide compound BPC 157." Pharmacology., vol. 95, no. 3-4, pp. 187-201, May 2015.
15. P. Seijer et al. "Protection growth combination peptide and tissue repair compound," J. Gastroenterol., vol. 38, Supplement 15, pp. 106-110, 2003.
16. M. Sikirić et al. "BPC 157 and nitric oxide producing system regulation and maintenance." Nitric Oxide., vol. 9, no. 4, pp. 196-206, Jun. 2003.
17. M. Sever et al. "Growth and healing compound pentadecapeptide BPC 157 protective properties in animal models." J. Physiol. Pharmacol., vol. 60, Supplement 7, pp. 75-82, Dec. 2009.
18. P. Sikirić et al. "Protective pentadecapeptide agent BPC 157 compound against therapy in chronic conditions." Life Sci., vol. 160, no. 1, pp. 25-33, May 2017.