Repair and Recovery Research

Multi-Organ Membrane Repair and Dopamine Balancing.

“Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 antagonizes the incidence of a series of gastrointestinal lesions, it has a positive impact on the healing processes of various wounds, a proven angiogenic effect, protective effect on endothelium and it modulates synthesis of NO.” (1)”Apart from the effects on various gastrointestinal lesions, the potentially beneficial effect on pancreas, liver injuries, endothelium and heart damage, i.e. dysrhythmias following reoxygenation, and blood pressure, along with effect on experimental acute/chronic inflammation, wound and fracture (pseudoarthrosis) healing are described. It appears that these beneficial effects all together provide a particular network reflecting activity of a special peptidergic defence system.” (4)”In support of this concept, it appears that there are interactions of this pentadecapeptide with many important systems (namely, dopamine-, NO-, prostaglandin-, somatosensory neurone-systems), that could provide a basis for the observed protective effects. Moreover, since disturbance of these systems’ functions (i.e. dopamine-, NO-, somatosensory neuronal-system) which manifest either over-activity or as inhibition, may contribute to the multiple lesions in different organs. The reported evidence that this pentadecapeptide is able to counteract both their over-action, and their inhibition, may suggest this pentadecapeptide as a new, but most probably essential physiological defence system and that should be further investigated.” (4)

NAD+ is the second most abundant cofactor in the human body. Anti-aging therapies are becoming more mainstream as aging is now more often being viewed as a disease. Now that this transition is happening, the ability for NAD+ to activate PARPS, Sirtuins, and help with immune dysregulation has been thoroughly investigated and NAD+ and its precursors have been highly popularized. The clinical importance of maintaining cellular NAD+ levels was established early in the last century with the finding that pellagra, a disease characterized by diarrhea, dermatitis, dementia and death, could be cured with foods containing the NAD+ precursor niacin.

Additionally, cellular concentrations of NAD+ have been shown to decrease under conditions of increased oxidative damage such as occur during aging Altered levels of NAD+ have been found to accompany several disorders associated with increased oxidative/free radical damage including diabetes, heart disease, age-related vascular dysfunction, ischemic brain injury, misfolded neuronal proteins, and Alzheimer’s dementia. Interventions targeted at restoring NAD+ has been shown in animal models to support healthy aging and improve metabolic function, and dementia.

A need for NAD+ in muscle development, homeostasis, and aging

In a review study, researchers discuss the recent data that document conserved roles for NAD+ in skeletal muscle development, regeneration, aging, and disease as well as interventions targeting skeletal muscle and affecting NAD+ that suggest promising therapeutic benefits. The researchers also highlight gaps in our knowledge and propose avenues of future investigation to better understand why and how NAD+ regulates skeletal muscle biology.

Dementia Overview

Dementia is a chronic and progressive brain disorder that affects a person’s cognitive abilities, including memory, thinking, behavior, and communication. It is a broad term used to describe a range of symptoms caused by a variety of underlying diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and others. Furthermore, Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia that is characterized by a gradual and irreversible decline in cognitive abilities, including memory, language, perception, and reasoning. It is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for 60-70% of all cases.According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are an estimated 50 million people worldwide living with dementia, and this number is expected to triple by 2050. Dementia is more common in older adults, but it can also affect younger people, especially those with genetic predispositions or other risk factors. Alzheimer’s disease is responsible for 60-80% of these cases. In the United States alone, over 6 million people are living with Alzheimer’s disease, and this number is expected to rise to nearly 14 million by 2050.

TB4 Mechanism of Action

The mechanism of action of thymosin-beta 4 is multifaceted and complex. This peptide is involved in many essential biological processes, including tissue repair, wound healing, and angiogenesis. In the context of neurocognitive disorders, thymosin-beta 4 has been shown to have several potential mechanisms of action that may help improve brain function and alleviate symptoms of diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s.

One of the primary ways in which thymosin-beta 4 may help with neurocognitive issues is by promoting the growth and regeneration of neurons in the brain. Studies have shown that thymosin-beta 4 can stimulate the formation of new neurons and support the survival of existing neurons, which can lead to improved cognitive function.

Thymosin-beta 4 has also been found to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which may be beneficial in the context of neurocognitive disorders. Inflammation and oxidative stress are known to contribute to the development and progression of these diseases, and thymosin-beta 4 may help reduce their impact on the brain. Additionally, thymosin-beta 4 has been shown to improve the function of microglia, immune cells in the brain that play a critical role in maintaining brain health. Microglia help clear out damaged cells and debris, but they can also contribute to inflammation and damage in certain contexts. Thymosin-beta 4 appears to help regulate microglia function and reduce their harmful effects, which may be beneficial in the context of neurocognitive disorders.

The potential mechanisms of action of thymosin-beta 4 in the context of neurocognitive disorders are diverse and complex, but the evidence suggests that this peptide has the potential to improve brain function and alleviate symptoms of diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s. Please see the very exciting research examples below as to how this peptide could benefit those with the diseases.

BPC-157 is a partial form of the protein known as body protection compound (BPC). BPC is a natural component within the body and has been found, in experiments on animals, to promote healing. BPC is not just active in intestinal repair and healing, but appears to produce similar effects in a number of tissues. Scientific studies based on animal test subjects has shown that its healing actions are at least partially linked to growth hormone (GH).

BPC 157 is a peptide that has demonstrated anti-inflammatory, cytoprotective, and endothelial-protective effects in different organ systems in different species. BPC 157 activated endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) is associated with nitric oxide (NO) release, tissue repair and angio-modulatory properties which can lead to improved vascular integrity and immune response, reduced proinflammatory profile, and reduced critical levels of the disease. As a result, discussion of its use as a potential prophylactic and complementary treatment is critical.

Figure 2: BPC 157 Molecule

Researchers hypothesize BPC 157 to be a promising future treatment for COVID-19 patients. Plausibly, BPC 157 may offer improved COVID-19 outcomes by mitigating cytokine derailment and subsequent multi-organ failure based on its anti-inflammatory, cytoprotective, and endothelium-protecting effects (e.g., through BPC 157-eNOS interactions). Furthermore, BPC 157 applications may obstruct viral replication, improve clinical and biochemical parameters, attenuate organ damage from the systemic alterations, provoked from SARS-CoV-2. Support for such a hypothesis is explained in further detail below.