BPC-157 

BPC 157 (Body Protection Compound-157) is a pentadecapeptide consisting of 15 amino acids. The amino acid sequence in BPC 157 is similar to part of the amino acid sequence of human BPC. Human BPC is found in gastric juice. Experiments have shown that BPC 157 improves wound healing, including tendon wounds such as lacerations Achilles tendons of rats. The aim of this study was to study the possible mechanism that BPC 157 uses to accelerate the healing process of a damaged tendon. The study used two groups of tendon explants, of which one group was cultured in a medium containing BPC 157, and the other group was cultured in a medium that did not contain BPC 157. These cultures were then examined for fibroblast growth tendon. Such outgrowths indicate tendon regeneration. The results showed that the growth of explants was significantly accelerated in the culture containing BPC 157 compared to the culture in which BPC 157 is absent. In addition, MTT analysis indeed showed that BPC 157 did not directly affect the proliferation of cells in the Achilles culture obtained from rats. tendon. However, the results also showed that BPC 157 significantly increased cell survival under oxidative stress. Furthermore, Transwell filter migration analysis showed that BPC 157 significantly increased fibroblast migration in vitro in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, BPC 157 accelerated the dispersion of fibroblasts in culture dishes depending on doses. MTT analysis indeed showed that BPC 157 had no direct effect on cell proliferation in rat Achilles tendon culture. However, the results also showed that BPC 157 significantly increased cell survival under oxidative stress. In addition, Transwell filter migration analysis showed that BPC 157 significantly increased fibroblast migration in vitro in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, BPC 157 accelerated the dispersion of fibroblasts in culture dishes in a dose-dependent manner. MTT analysis indeed showed that BPC 157 did not have a direct effect on cell proliferation in rat Achilles tendon culture. However, the results also showed that BPC 157 significantly increased cell survival under oxidative stress. In addition, Transwell filter migration analysis showed that BPC 157 significantly increased the migration of fibroblasts in vitro in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, BPC 157 accelerated the dispersion of fibroblasts in culture dishes in a dose-dependent manner.

Furthermore, staining with FITC-phalloidin made it possible to demonstrate that BPC 157 induces the formation of F-actin in fibroblasts. Similarly, western blot analysis revealed the production and activation of paxillin and FAK proteins. Western blot analysis also showed that BPC 157 increases the degree of phosphorylation of paxillin and FAK proteins, without affecting produced quantities.

Thus, it can be concluded that BPC 157 enhances ex-vivo growth and in vitro cell migration of fibroblasts obtained from rat tendon explants. In addition, BPC 157 also increases the probability of cell survival under oxidative stress. These actions of BPC 157 are probably mediated by the activation (through phosphorylation) of the protein pathway FAK-paxillin.  

BPC-157 peptide