BPC-157

Defining BPC-157

BPC-157, an acronym for Body Protection Compound-157, is a substance derived from the Body Protection Compound (BPC). BPC is a protein naturally found in the human digestive system. Its core physiological roles include protecting the internal lining of the GI tract, promoting tissue recovery, and facilitating the expansion of blood vessels.

The lab-created BPC-157 is a pentadecapeptide, a short chain made up of 15 amino acids that has been isolated from the much larger BPC protein. This synthetic fragment has been shown to retain a significant number of the healing capabilities of the original molecule. Specifically, BPC-157 has demonstrated effects on:

• Tissue repair and recovery
• Growth of new blood vessels
• The blood clotting cascade
• Synthesis of nitric oxide
• The immune response
• Regulation of gene expression
• Hormone balance (particularly in the enteric nervous system)

Research Findings on BPC-157 Peptide

1. BPC-157 and Tissue Regeneration

BPC’s natural function is to preserve the integrity of the mucosal barrier in the GI tract, shielding the underlying tissues from the damaging effects of essential digestive components like bile and gastric acid. BPC-157 shows a highly similar and potent, concentration-dependent influence on fibroblasts—the cells central to tissue repair that deposit extracellular matrix proteins like collagen—causing them to increase their numbers and move more rapidly both in vivo and in vitro.

2. Stimulation of Neovascularization and Collateral Supply

As a potent angiogenic factor, BPC-157 accelerates the division and growth of endothelial cells (the cells that line blood vessels). Studies in rats indicate that the peptide significantly enhances the growth of collateral blood vessels following a wound or an occlusion. This characteristic may account for the peptide’s expedited healing effect and suggests potential therapeutic benefits for the neurological, muscular, and cardiovascular systems. Therefore, BPC-157 could be valuable as a treatment for both wounds and disease-related tissue death, and as a research tool for understanding how to accelerate recovery after ischemic injury. Studies involving chicken embryos propose that BPC-157 encourages vascular growth through the stimulation of VEGFR2, a cell surface receptor that plays a critical role in the external signaling pathways that regulate the development, growth, and lifespan of endothelial cells.

3. BPC-157 and Connective Tissue Repair

Given its established roles in promoting new vessel formation and fibroblast activity, it is logical that BPC-157 exhibits powerful effects on the healing of tendons, ligaments, bone, and other connective tissue injuries. These injuries are known for their slow recovery, largely due to an inherently poor blood supply that can be further impaired by the injury. This lack of blood flow restricts the ability of fibroblasts and other essential healing cells to reach the site of injury and perform their reparative work. A comprehensive summary of rat tendon research shows that BPC-157 not only promotes collateralization and vascular ingrowth in tendon fibroblasts but also affects DNA repair and cell adhesion. The evidence suggests that BPC-157 is more effective than bFGF, FTG, and VGF hormones in stimulating tissue recovery and benefits.

Testing using FITC-phalloidin staining has identified BPC-157 as a strong stimulator of actin cytoskeletal structure formation, which is essential for cellular function and plays a critical role in cell motility. Western blot analysis confirms that BPC-157 up-regulates the expression of FAK and Paxillin proteins, which are key components in the cell migration pathways.

In vitro cell culture research has successfully demonstrated vascular system "reorganization" or "pruning" following BPC-157 administration. Few agents possess the capacity to re-establish blood flow to distant sites by modifying the existing vascular system around a blockage or injury without surgical intervention. This unique function of BPC-157 may allow for the development of an effective oral treatment for slowly developing arterial occlusions, such as those seen in atherosclerotic heart disease, potentially eliminating the need for invasive surgical procedures like balloon angioplasty, stenting, and coronary artery bypass grafting.

4. Antioxidation Capabilities

Rat studies indicate that BPC-157 can neutralize certain markers of oxidative stress (such as nitric oxide and malondialdehyde) while simultaneously decreasing the production of superoxide and hydroxyl radicals, affirming its status as a powerful antioxidant. This is further supported by research where modified Lactobacillus lactis bacteria, used to deliver BPC-157 to the intestine, resulted in a dramatic increase in the peptide’s concentration in cell cultures.

5. Mitigating Adverse Drug Reactions

The use of many medical pharmaceuticals is often restricted by their side effects. NSAIDs, for example, increase the likelihood of heart attacks and gastric bleeding. The ability to counteract adverse effects while preserving a drug’s core therapeutic benefits could significantly enhance the outcomes for patients taking various medications. BPC-157 has been found to prevent bleeding caused by NSAIDs, psychiatric drugs, and certain cardiac medications.

It is a logical finding that BPC-157 helps prevent many of the GI side effects caused by certain drugs. The peptide also provides protective action against side effects in tissues beyond the gut, including the heart and brain. For example, research in rats shows BPC-157 can protect against QTc prolongation in the heart—a condition that can lead to severe, potentially fatal, arrhythmias—which is a known side effect of medications for anxiety, depression, and other psychiatric conditions. BPC-157 also prevents other severe psychiatric medication side effects, including serotonin syndrome and catatonia. This type of preventive measure may become increasingly important as the number of psychiatric medications grows, particularly since patients often discontinue treatment due to adverse reactions.

6. BPC-157 Application for Honey Bees

Colony collapse disorder (CCD), characterized by the unexplained disappearance or death of entire honey bee colonies, remains partially understood, but a fungal infection, Nosema ceranae, in the honey bee digestive tract is a contributing factor. Researchers are exploring whether supplementing the food consumed by honey bee larvae with peptides like BPC-157 can reduce these infections in the GI tract, leading to a corresponding increase in the rates of hive survival. These treatments, conducted under natural conditions, show great promise for reducing the impact of CCD on the most important pollinator for global food crops.

Future Investigative Work on BPC-157

BPC-157 is currently undergoing extensive investigation in a variety of animal and cell culture models. The peptide shows considerable promise, not only for accelerating soft tissue recovery and healing and regulating vascular growth, but also as a powerful tool for investigating the control mechanisms of these biological processes. Research utilizing BPC-157 has the potential to offer significant insights into angiogenesis, a process that is critical to wound healing, normal development, and the onset of cancer.

BPC-157 demonstrates minimal reported side effects, possesses moderate oral absorption, and exhibits excellent absorption when injected subcutaneously. Note: It is not approved for human use. Its sale by Peptide Sciences is strictly limited to educational and scientific research. Only professional academic or scientific researchers are authorized to purchase BPC-157.