BPC-157 Peptide and Tendon Research

Injuries to the tendons are quite prevalent. The Achilles tendon, biceps tendon, and tendons in limbs are the most often injured skeletal muscle groups. Tendon injuries are often induced by overworking or injury in tendon use. Systemic diseases and inherited conditions account for only a small fraction of tendon injuries. Peptides for tendon repair studies have gained popularity for these and other reasons. Here, we look at the cutting-edge knowledge on peptides for tendon research.

How Exactly Do Tendon Get Injured?

Tendons connect muscle to bone and transmit mechanical force from a muscle contraction directly to the skeleton. Ruptures in tendons are very dangerous; they require surgery and signigicant time to recover. It might take months for tendinitis to recover, which is simply inflammation from mild injury.

Tendons that have been wounded are more likely to suffer another injury because the healing process is often less systematic than tendon formation. Rather than regenerating, tendons are built to endure a lifetime with little wear and tear. They lack the regenerative capabilities (such as an abundance of stem cells) of other tissues like the gastrointestinal tract or skin. Unfortunately, the rate at which a tendon may be injured is usually greater than the rate at which it can be repaired, even if the healing is restricted. Said tendon injuries tend to add up, and the more active the organism is, the greater the risk of a complete tendon rupture.

Inflammation, an immunological reaction that produces discomfort and limited movement, is the initial stage of the healing process for tendons. However, this phase takes a while since the tendon has a weak blood supply. The repair phase follows the healing phase and involves the proliferation of cells like fibroblasts, which begin replacing damaged tissue. Following this comes the remodeling phase, performed by stem cells and other cell types. Again, the extremely sluggish pace at which tendons mend is attributable to the very poor nutrient supply to the tendon throughout these phases.

Why Don’t Tendon Heal?

There are several causes for poor tendon healing. Before anything else, it is important to note that tendons have a lower blood supply than other tissues, as we’ve already covered. Because of this, fewer fibroblasts and other repair cells can go to the site of damage. Due to a lack of repair cells, tendon injuries take far longer to heal than they should.

One of the reasons tendons don’t recover quickly after being injured is that the more time passes while the injury is being treated, the more stress the tissue is put under. The extracellular matrix’s collagen and elastin fibers may become misaligned due to these pressures, resulting in a scar that has functional and aesthetic consequences. Due to their limited blood supply, tendons are among the last tissues to recover from damage. This leaves them vulnerable to further damage, which might cause the extracellular matrix fibers to become misaligned. Forces are not transferred effectively because these fibers do not align with the direction in which the most force is applied. This makes scarred tendons more vulnerable to further damage.

Studies have suggested that some research peptides may accelerate tendon healing. Studying these peptides sheds light on how researchers may potentially hasten and strengthen tendon recovery. Findings suggest that during the healing process, tendons exposed to peptides in these experiments may often be stronger and more resilient than tendons not exposed to peptides. Here, we look at what scientists have learned from studying peptides for tendon repair and how this knowledge may speed up the healing process without sacrificing the quality of the repair.

BPC 157 Peptide

Body protection compound (BPC) is a naturally occurring peptide in most animals’ gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Data suggests that BPC 157 may promote blood vessel formation, control the coagulation cascade, raise nitric oxide production, and affect immune system function.

Research suggests that BPC 157’s potential to stimulate the recruitment of fibroblasts may make it particularly useful in tendons. The cells accountable for making collagen and elastin are called fibroblasts. These factors affect both the development of scar tissue and the rate at which injuries are repaired. Faster fibroblast proliferation and migration to the site of damage have been linked to BPC 157. Studies suggest that BPC 157 may improve fibroblast function in musculoskeletal tissue by increasing fibroblast production of growth hormone receptors.

It has been hypothesized that BPC 157 may help tendon injuries by promoting new blood vessel formation in the injured area. It is implied that this may allow for a more rapid supply of healing substances, including cells, nutrients, and raw materials. BPC 157 has been purported to promote tendon healing more effectively than various natural growth hormones in experiments designed to test its involvement in tendon repair.

In addition to hastening the recovery process, it has been speculated that BPC 157 may also improve tendon regeneration. Findings from research studies propose that tendons mended with BPC 157 may have better functional and biomechanical qualities than those that have healed without the compound, at least in rat models. Histological examinations of the tendons presented with BPC 157 suggest their structural superiority over tendons not exposed to BPC 157 due to the superior fiber alignment observed.

Biotech Peptides

Visit Biotech Peptides for more educational articles on peptides. You can also buy research compounds from the same source, but only if you are a licensed professional looking for research materials. The knowledge presented in this article is for educational purposes only, and the compounds mentioned should only be used in contained environments such as research laboratories.

References

[i] T. Huang et al., “Body protective compound-157 enhances alkali-burn wound healing in vivo and promotes proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis in vitro,” Drug Des. Devel. Ther., vol. 9, pp. 2485–2499, 2015, doi: 10.2147/DDDT.S82030.

[ii] C.-H. Chang, W.-C. Tsai, M.-S. Lin, Y.-H. Hsu, and J.-H. S. Pang, “The promoting effect of pentadecapeptide BPC 157 on tendon healing involves tendon outgrowth, cell survival, and cell migration,” J. Appl. Physiol. Bethesda Md 1985, vol. 110, no. 3, Art. no. 3, Mar. 2011, doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00945.2010.

[iii] C.-H. Chang, W.-C. Tsai, Y.-H. Hsu, and J.-H. Su Pang, “Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 Enhances the Growth Hormone Receptor Expression in Tendon Fibroblasts,” Molecules, vol. 19, no. 11, pp. 19066–19077, Nov. 2014, doi: 10.3390/molecules191119066.

[iv] M.-J. Hsieh et al., “Therapeutic potential of pro-angiogenic BPC157 is associated with VEGFR2 activation and up-regulation,” J. Mol. Med., vol. 95, no. 3, Art. no. 3, Mar. 2017, doi: 10.1007/s00109-016-1488-y.

[v] P. Sikiric et al., “Novel Cytoprotective Mediator, Stable Gastric Pentadecapeptide BPC 157. Vascular Recruitment and Gastrointestinal Tract Healing,” Curr. Pharm. Des., vol. 24, no. 18, pp. 1990–2001, 2018, doi: 10.2174/1381612824666180608101119.

[vi] S. Seiwerth et al., “BPC 157 and Standard Angiogenic Growth Factors. Gastrointestinal Tract Healing, Lessons from Tendon, Ligament, Muscle and Bone Healing,” Curr. Pharm. Des., vol. 24, no. 18, pp. 1972–1989, 2018, doi: 10.2174/1381612824666180712110447.

[vii] T. Cerovecki et al., “Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 (PL 14736) improves ligament healing in the rat,” J. Orthop. Res. Off. Publ. Orthop. Res. Soc., vol. 28, no. 9, Art. no. 9, Sep. 2010, doi: 10.1002/jor.21107.

[viii] S. Doessing et al., “Growth hormone stimulates the collagen synthesis in human tendon and skeletal muscle without affecting myofibrillar protein synthesis,” J. Physiol., vol. 588, no. Pt 2, pp. 341–351, Jan. 2010, doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2009.179325.