Introduction to BPC-157

BPC-157 is a derivative of a natural protein called body protection compound (BPC). Initially isolated from the digestive system, BPC may play a vital role in protecting the stomach lining from stomach acid. However, research has since revealed that the healing properties of BPC-157 extend well beyond the gut. This peptide has been shown to boost wound healing in various tissues, increase blood vessel development, strengthen blood coagulation, and boost immunity.

In order to comprehend what is BPC-157 and its extensive range of benefits, it is imperative to commence at the most fundamental level of its action and observe how its various features combine to form a superb healing peptide.

 

How Does BPC-157 Work in Blood Vessels?

Studies reveal that BPC-157 acts on blood vessels in two distinct ways. It first facilitates blood vessel relaxation, which makes blood flow through them easier. It accomplishes this by raising nitric oxide concentrations in the blood, a naturally occurring substance that is essential for regulating blood pressure and the health of the endothelial cell.

By directly promoting the proliferation of endothelial cells, BPC-157 acts in blood arteries in a second method. Thus, BPC-157 appears to increase endothelial cell growth in two ways: by boosting nitric oxide production and by stimulating a growth factor known as VEGF, which causes endothelial cells to grow and divide. These findings indicate that BPC-157 may cause changes in DNA expression patterns that aid in blood vessel growth and health.

How Does BPC-157 Work to Prevent Clots?

Recent research suggests that BPC-157 might be useful in treating COVID-19 due to its ability to prevent clots in both arteries and veins. BPC-157 prevents clots by increasing nitric oxide concentration, which prevents platelets from sticking together to form the first stages of a clot.

BPC-157 not only prevents clots but also prevents excessive bleeding by normalizing the coagulation system. It appears that BPC-157 acts via several vascular pathways, including VEGF, nitric oxide, and FAK (focal adhesion kinase). FAK is a protein that determines how cells stick together and is crucial in the clotting process and a variety of normal and pathological processes. Evidence suggests that BPC-157 has a direct effect on FAK expression.

 

How Does BPC-157 Work in Wound Repair?

Based on its actions in blood vessels, part of the reason that BPC-157 speeds wound healing is that it helps to restore blood flow to damaged tissues. This is true whether BPC-157 is working in the stomach, the heart, tendons, or skin. Research shows that BPC-157 also increases the rate of vascular running, which refers to blood vessels growing toward an area of injury. So, not only does it increase blood flow through existing vessels, but BPC-157 also encourages new vessels to grow toward areas of injury and inflammation.

Its benefits on blood vessel growth are not the only reason BPC-157 improves wound healing. Research shows that the peptide increases the rate at which fibroblasts move into damaged tissue. Fibroblasts are the cells that generate the extracellular matrix, a critical component for initiating wound healing.

BPC-157 is so effective in improving wound repair rates that it has been investigated in fistula healing. Similar to tendons, fistulas are infamously challenging to cure. Even with the most recent medical procedures, the healing process for an average fistula takes longer than 2.5 years. With BPC-157, healing rates in animal models are reduced to less than a month.

 

How Does BPC-157 Work in Tendon Healing?

Tendons and ligaments are know for their difficulty in healing due to their limited blood supply, which prevents fibroblasts and immune cells from reaching the injury site in sufficient numbers. Despite surgery, tendon recovery is a slow process and frequently not successful.

Animal models of ligament, tendon, and bone injury suggest that BPC-157 has substantial positive benefits. Studies of healing tissues show increased levels of bFGF, EGF, and VEGF following the administration of BPC-157. This suggests that BPC-157 either directly or indirectly raises hormone and growth factor levels that are required to guide cells to the site of injury. Wounds heal more quickly the greater these growth factor levels.

Benchtop experiments in cell culture also show that BPC-157 dramatically increases the numbers of GH receptors on tendons. Growth hormone (GH) is widely recognized for its capacity to enhance immunological function, accelerate wound healing, and stimulate musculoskeletal growth. BPC-157 increases GH receptor numbers rather than GH levels, concentrating GH action at the injured tendon without the side effects of raising GH levels throughout the body.

 

How Does BPC-157 Work to Change DNA Expression?

Studies suggest that BPC-157 may modify DNA expression patterns by activating the EGR1, NAB2, FAK-paxillin, and JAK-2 pathways. Put differently, BPC-157 modifies the function of DNA to promote blood clotting, wound healing, and other processes. Every mechanism that BPC-157 is believed to affect is crucial for immune response or cell proliferation:

• EGR1: A DNA transcription regulator found in the brain that turns genes on and off. It is important in fibroblast activity, neuron growth, and ovarian function.
• NAB2: Associated with EGR1, NAB2 helps fine-tune DNA to make certain proteins more or less active.
• FAK-paxillin: FAK and paxillin are critical in cell adhesion. BPC-157 likely acts on these proteins to modulate blood clotting and cell movement.
• JAK-2: The JAK-STAT pathway is crucial for cell division and immune system function. BPC-157 likely uses these pathways to signal to DNA that growth, cell specialization, cell division are needed, enhancing immune response and wound repair.

 

BPC-157 and Cancer

There is confusion about BPC-157 and cancer, with some suggesting that it could cause cancer due to its stimulation of VEGF secretion. However, this line of reasoning is incorrect. VEGF secretion increases in response to hypoxia (low oxygen levels) caused by tumor growth, not the other way around. Thus, BPC-157 does not cause cancer growth; rather, it responds to tissue needs.

Moreover, BPC-157 is a homeostatic molecule that promotes balance in processes such as blood vessel growth and inflammatory responses. Tumor growth is followed by increases in inflammatory cytokines, and BPC-157 has been shown to counteract these inflammatory pathways, suggesting it may actually inhibit cancer growth.

A recent study found that BPC-157 inhibits cell growth and VEGF signaling in skin cancer cells, further supporting its role as a homeostatic regulator. Therefore, while BPC-157 increases VEGF during wound healing, it does not universally increase VEGF in all tissues but favors homeostasis.

A Note on BPC-157 Varieties

BPC-157 is available in two varieties: arginate and acetate salts. These modifications protect BPC-157 during transport and storage. Arginate salts are more expensive to produce but last longer and are more resistant to gastric acid, making them beneficial for oral administration. Research shows that arginate salts are more stable in stomach acid, making them more effective for oral dosing.

 

How Does BPC-157 Work Overall?

BPC-157 actively modulates growth factors and signaling hormones to stabilize blood vessel growth, immune function, and tissue repair. This coordinated activity suggests that BPC-157 alters DNA expression patterns to optimize injury repair.

One significant benefit of BPC-157 is its ability to increase nitric oxide, which increases blood flow, reduces blood clotting, lowers bad cholesterol, reduces coronary artery plaques, fights free radicals, and more.

According to Dr. Rudolf Rucman of the University of Zagreb, BPC-157 helps the body reestablish homeostasis, aiding the return to baseline following an injury. This is consistent with the role of BPC-157 as a regulator of DNA expression patterns. Although it hasn't been thoroughly investigated, it makes sense to assume that BPC-157 optimizes the body's reaction to stress and damage by working at the most basic level of our biology—gene expression.

Conclusion

BPC-157 is a powerful peptide with wide-ranging therapeutic potential. Its ability to enhance wound healing, improve blood vessel growth, normalize clotting, and modulate immune function makes it a promising candidate for further research. By altering DNA expression and stabilizing nitric oxide levels, BPC-157 supports the body's natural healing processes and homeostasis. This peptide holds great promise for advancing medical treatments and improving patient outcomes in various conditions.