Background or Overview
Stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 is still far less investigated (Sikiric et al., 1993; Sikiric et al., 2006; Sikiric et al., 2010; Sikiric et al., 2011; Sikiric et al., 2012; Sikiric et al., 2013; Seiwerth et al., 2014; Sikiric et al., 2014; Sikiric et al., 2016; Sikiric et al., 2017; Kang et al., 2018; Seiwerth et al., 2018; Sikiric et al., 2018; Gwyer et al., 2019; Park et al., 2020; Sikiric et al., 2020a; Sikiric et al., 2020b) than the generally established angiogenic growth factors, epidermal growth factor (EGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) (Tarnawski and Ahluwalia, 2012; ). Originally, BPC 157 appears as a cytoprotective antiulcer peptide, stable in human gastric juice, previously employed in ulcerative colitis clinical trials and now in those concerning multiple sclerosis (Sikiric et al., 1993; Sikiric et al., 2006; Sikiric et al., 2010; Sikiric et al., 2011; Sikiric et al., 2012; Sikiric et al., 2013; Seiwerth et al., 2014; Sikiric et al., 2014; Sikiric et al., 2016; Sikiric et al., 2017; Kang et al., 2018; Seiwerth et al., 2018; Sikiric et al., 2018; Park et al., 2020; Sikiric et al., 2020a; Sikiric et al., 2020b) without toxicity (lethal dose 1 (LD1) could be not obtained) (Sikiric et al., 1993; Sikiric et al., 2006; Sikiric et al., 2010; Sikiric et al., 2011; Sikiric et al., 2012; Sikiric et al., 2013; Seiwerth et al., 2014; Sikiric et al., 2014; Sikiric et al., 2016; Sikiric et al., 2017; Kang et al., 2018; Seiwerth et al., 2018; Sikiric et al., 2018; Gwyer et al., 2019; Park et al., 2020; Sikiric et al., 2020a; Sikiric et al., 2020b). As a cytoprotective agent, mediating Robert’s cytoprotection, it maintains endothelium integrity and has a particular angiomodulatory effect (Sikiric et al., 1993; Sikiric et al., 2006; Sikiric et al., 2010; Sikiric et al., 2011; Sikiric et al., 2012; Sikiric et al., 2013; Seiwerth et al., 2014; Sikiric et al., 2014; Sikiric et al., 2016; Sikiric et al., 2017; Kang et al., 2018; Seiwerth et al., 2018; Sikiric et al., 2018; Park et al., 2020; Sikiric et al., 2020a; Sikiric et al., 2020b) (in various wound models, VEGF, factor VIII, CD34 peak appear in the early interval, while later depressed ()). In the sponge assay, BPC 157 exhibits an angiogenic effect greater than the standard antiulcer agents (Sikiric et al., 1999a). Besides, when we consider the general wound principles in tissue damage as a dynamic equilibrium between negative and positive events (i.e., necrosis and possibly pus formation vs. activation of macrophages and fibroblasts), BPC 157 shows the particular full extent of its healing actions (Seiwerth et al., 1997). This includes in addition to the skin lesions, the concomitant lesions counteraction, that is, burn stress gastric lesions in severely burned mice (Mikus et al., 2001). As an extending point, there appears to be fistula healing (i.e., simultaneous healing of the skin and other tissues wounds) (Klicek et al., 2008; Skorjanec et al., 2009; ; Skorjanec et al., 2015; ; Grgic et al., 2016; Sikiric et al., 2020a). Illustratively, there are particular distinctions from the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-BB) activity (Seveljevic-Jaran et al., 2006; Tkalcevic et al., 2007). In contrast to PDGF-BB, in diabetic wounds, induced by alloxan application, BPC 157 largely promoted mature collagen in granulation tissue (Seveljevic-Jaran et al., 2006) (note, previously, BPC 157 healed alloxan-induced gastric lesions in rats (Petek et al., 1999)). In addition, BPC 157 has a particular beneficial effect when confronted with the major vessel occlusion (Duzel et al., 2017; ; Drmic et al., 2018; Vukojevic et al., 2018; Sever et al., 2019; ; Gojkovic et al., 2020; Kolovrat et al., 2020; Vukojevic et al., 2020). BPC 157 rapidly attenuates the major vessel occlusion severe consequences by rapidly activating collateral pathways occlusion (Duzel et al., 2017; ; Drmic et al., 2018; Vukojevic et al., 2018; Sever et al., 2019; ; Gojkovic et al., 2020; Kolovrat et al., 2020; Vukojevic et al., 2020). With permanent vessel obstruction, once the therapeutic effect begins, the beneficial action proceeds without further reappearance of the adverse effects of vessel obstruction (Duzel et al., 2017; ; Drmic et al., 2018; Vukojevic et al., 2018; Sever et al., 2019; Gojkovic et al., 2020; Kolovrat et al., 2020; Vukojevic et al., 2020). Likewise, reestablished blood flow may certainly contribute to the rapid recovery effect noted.
This particular balanced modulatory action, which rapidly appears, along with this pentadecapeptide’s particular characteristics, will be especially reviewed. It may be even more interesting and more effective than that of comparative standard agents (Sikiric et al., 1993; Sikiric et al., 2006; Sikiric et al., 2010; Sikiric et al., 2011; Sikiric et al., 2012; Sikiric et al., 2013; Seiwerth et al., 2014; Sikiric et al., 2014; Sikiric et al., 2016; Sikiric et al., 2017; Kang et al., 2018; Seiwerth et al., 2018; Sikiric et al., 2018; Gwyer et al., 2019; Park et al., 2020; Sikiric et al., 2020a; Sikiric et al., 2020b), the silver sulfadiazine cream (Mikus et al., 2001) or systemic corticosteroids (Sikiric et al., 2003), for possible wound healing therapy (i.e., incisional/excisional wound, deep burns, diabetic ulcer, and alkali burns) (Seiwerth et al., 1997; Mikus et al., 2001; Sikiric et al., 2003; Xue et al., 2004a; ; Seveljevic-Jaran et al., 2006; Tkalcevic et al., 2007; Huang et al., 2015). Additionally, BPC 157 administration counteracted various free radical–induced lesions and increased free radical formation in other organs (Sikiric et al., 1993; Ilic et al., 2010; ; Duzel et al., 2017; Luetic et al., 2017; ; Drmic et al., 2018; Vukojevic et al., 2018; Sever et al., 2019; Sucic et al., 2019; ; Kolovrat et al., 2020). The carboxylic groups of the pentadecapeptide BPC 157 may contribute to its role as an antioxidant. The cumulative antioxidant activity could be very high with the reactivation of the carboxylic groups (e.g., glutathione or enzymes). Additionally, BPC 157 is present in most tissues (Seiwerth et al., 2018), where it can bind reactive free radicals and inactivate them at crucial positions not reachable by other antioxidants (Sikiric et al., 1993; Sikiric et al., 2006; Sikiric et al., 2010; Sikiric et al., 2011; Sikiric et al., 2012; Sikiric et al., 2013; Seiwerth et al., 2014; Sikiric et al., 2014; Sikiric et al., 2016; Sikiric et al., 2017; Kang et al., 2018; Seiwerth et al., 2018; Sikiric et al., 2018; Gwyer et al., 2019; Park et al., 2020; Sikiric et al., 2020a; Sikiric et al., 2020b).
Skin Wounds
This particular balanced modulatory action was indicated in the initial manuscript (Seiwerth et al., 1997). This study already established that the combined triad of collagen-inflammatory cells–angiogenesis was accordingly upgraded, appearing at earlier intervals, more rapid, and advanced with BPC 157 therapy (Seiwerth et al., 1997). Quantitative analysis of collagen development as well as granulation tissue formation and angiogenesis was performed in vivo models, incisional skin wounds, colon–colon anastomoses, and synthetic sponge implants (Seiwerth et al., 1997). The applied rationale of skin and colon wounds (Seiwerth et al., 1997) covers the different healing patterns and dynamics of these organs related to their collagen structures (Eyre et al., 1984; Eckersley and Dudley, 1988; Hendriks and Mastboom, 1990). The noted wide effectiveness in all of these models postulates a quite general wound healing effect (Seiwerth et al., 1997). Thereby, the subsequent burn studies were on the burns covering 20% of total body area on the back of mice, open flame for 5 or 7 s (Mikus et al., 2001; Sikiric et al., 2003). The accelerated healing in burns of treated mice includes the activity of the pentadecapeptide BPC 157 (Figure 1), given locally (as a cream) or systemically (ip), on the inflammatory cells, edema, reticulin, collagen, necrosis, blood vessel formation, number of preserved follicles, re-epithelization, tensile breaking strength, and water content in burned skin. BPC 157 regimens also attenuated burn stress-gastric lesions (Mikus et al., 2001). Note, there is apparently smaller extent of the silver sulfadiazine cream effect (Mikus et al., 2001). Further positive outcome appears in the corticosteroid animals with severe burns (Mikus et al., 2001; Sikiric et al., 2003). With BPC 157 additional therapy, there are no characteristic corticosteroid adverse effects in the corticosteroid animals (Sikiric et al., 2003). As a beneficial property, inhibition of the inflammatory response did not impair wound healing and did not induce failed collagen synthesis (Mikus et al., 2001; Sikiric et al., 2003). In this, pentadecapeptide BPC 157 consistently (grossly, microscopically, and biomechanically) cured burn injuries, and counteracted corticosteroid (6α-methylprednisolone 1.0 or 10 mg/kg/day ip for 21 days)-induced impairment of burn healing (Mikus et al., 2001; Sikiric et al., 2003). With pentadecapeptide BPC 157, less edema and less inflammatory cells, re-epithelization, tensile breaking force, relative elongation of the burned part skin appear together, and inhibition of inflammation and beneficial effects. This chain of events fails to occur in the corticosteroids animals after initial inflammation inhibition (Sikiric et al., 2003). Even more importantly, BPC 157 accordingly inhibited corticosteroid-induced immunosuppression (Sikiric et al., 2003). In vitro, in comparison with control, healthy animals, the assessment of splenic cells (day 21) demonstrated that the 6α-methylprednisolone animals had declined reactivity to nitrogen, while the addition of BPC 157 (1 μg/g cream) returned cell reactivity to normal values (Mikus et al., 2001; Sikiric et al., 2003). A similar outcome appears in the CO2 laser injury on the dorsal skin mice ().
FIGURE 1
To find out a specific mechanism, a comparison with the becaplermin (recombinant human platelet–derived growth factor homodimer of B chains, PDGF-BB) was the focus of the two additional studies using excisional wounds in diabetic rats and mice (Figure 2) (Seveljevic-Jaran et al., 2006; Tkalcevic et al., 2007). Increased expression of the immediate response gene, early growth response gene-1 (egr-1), was shown in Caco-2 cells in vitro (Tkalcevic et al., 2007). These studies, even in diabetic conditions (Seveljevic-Jaran et al., 2006; Tkalcevic et al., 2007), revealed increased stimulation of early collagen organization in BPC 157 therapy. Importantly, BPC 157, but not PDGF-BB, stimulated earlier maturation of granulation tissue, soluble collagen concentration in the exudates (using sponge implantation), and organized collagen significantly more in wounds (i.e., on day 12 after daily treatment) (Tkalcevic et al., 2007). As a rationale, the study proposed the evidence that stimulation of the Caco-2 cells with 10–100 μM BPC 157 resulted in an earlier, reproducible stimulation of the expression of mRNA for egr-1, with a peak after 15 min. The peak expression of mRNA for the egr-1 co-repressor, nerve growth factor 1-A binding protein-2 (nab2), was observed 30 min after BPC 157 stimulation (Tkalcevic et al., 2007). This favors the possible controlling role of the BPC 157. Namely, we should consider egr-1 gene both positive and negative association. The beneficial significance of the egr-1 gene implies the healing process (i.e., trans-activation of many cognate target genes in healing tissue, including growth factors and cytokines (; ), the transcription of other genes, including those for collagen II (α1) and PDGF (). Likewise, there is its negative association (i.e., elevated egr-1 levels associated with cardiovascular pathobiology (Khachigian, 2006) or cholestatic liver injury (Kim et al., 2006; Zhang et al., 2011). It may be that BPC 157 rapid activation of the egr-1 and its co-repressor, nab2, means an essential operating healing BPC 157 feedback axis controlling egr-1 levels along with nab2.
FIGURE 2
Finally, BPC 157 administration cured the alkali burn-induced skin injury (Huang et al., 2015). There were faster granulation tissue formation, re-epithelialization, dermal remodeling, and collagen deposition through extracellular signal–regulated kinases (ERK)1/2 signaling pathway as well as its downstream targets, including c-Fos, c-Jun, and egr-1. Likewise, there is greater proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), significantly promoted migration of HUVECs (transwell assay), and the upregulated expression of VEGF-a, and accelerated vascular tube formation in vitro (Huang et al., 2015).
Finally, this effect is apparently not species specific, and it was seen in the bigger animals as well. A similar finding (i.e., rehabilitation of skin wound and maturation of granulation tissue markedly promoted by BPC 157) was obtained in small-type pigs (Xue et al., 2004a). Note, the same group also reported a therapy with a prominent beneficial effect on various stomach lesions after administration of BPC 157 (Xue et al., 2004b).
Practical Application as Support
The evidence reported for the BPC 157 is the effectiveness with peptide given alone (Sikiric et al., 1993; Sikiric et al., 2006; Sikiric et al., 2010; Sikiric et al., 2011; Sikiric et al., 2012; Sikiric et al., 2013; Seiwerth et al., 2014; Sikiric et al., 2014; Sikiric et al., 2016; Sikiric et al., 2017; Kang et al., 2018; Seiwerth et al., 2018; Sikiric et al., 2018; Gwyer et al., 2019; Park et al., 2020; Sikiric et al., 2020a; Sikiric et al., 2020b). Contrarily, when there is a peptide carrier, far more investigated and commonly implied angiogenic standard growth factors in the growth factor healing concept (Tarnawski and Ahluwalia, 2012; ) have several limitations (i.e., local application, carrier addition, and weak and uncertain peptide activity of its own (Seiwerth et al., 2018)), delaying practical realization of the growth factor healing concept.
Illustratively, in the mentioned laser-wound studies, human albumin solder supplemented with transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 only, but not with HB-EGF or bFGF, increased the early postoperative strength of laser-welded wounds (Poppas et al., 1996), even though the superpulsed CO2 laser enhanced fibroblast replication and appeared to stimulate bFGF and inhibit TGF-β1 secretion (Nowak et al., 2000). Likewise, an essential problem with regard to the active (and effective) peptide is the continuous search for new delivery systems and new carriers, and new carriers and delivery systems together, with all standard angiogenic growth factors to improve their efficacy, although they are very extensive and highly sophisticated (for review, see Saghazadeh et al., 2018; Jee et al., 2019). Obviously, it may be unclear which one of the parts of peptide + carrier complex would be responsible for the activity (for review, see Urist, 1996). Thereby, this pitfall (i.e., the more carriers, the less own peptide activity) is commonly not considered (Saghazadeh et al., 2018; Jee et al., 2019), despite the fact it is recognized (Urist, 1996), and eventually jeopardizes the conclusions about these peptide activities and significance (Tarnawski and Ahluwalia, 2012; ). Obviously, the effects of one growth factor could be not unified when obtained with addition (and help) of different carriers (Seiwerth et al., 2018), and regardless given highly sophisticated evidence (Tarnawski and Ahluwalia, 2012; ), they could make the erroneous conclusions. Thus, it may be that ignoring these attribution problems jeopardizes the current growth factor healing concept (Tarnawski and Ahluwalia, 2012; ) since the needed certainty that the full healing evidence was correctly ascribed to the given peptid, is obviously lacking. For example, FGF studies in 1990s (; Thorén and Aspenberg, 1993; Siegall et al., 1994; Walter et al., 1996; Wang and Aspenberg, 1996; Yu et al., 1998; Tabata et al., 1999) are illustrative for the pertinence of the poorly resolved problem, illustrative for the diversity of the carriers (i.e., hyaluronate gel carrier (Wang and Aspengberg, 1996), alginate/heparin–sacharose microspheres and films (Yu et al., 1998), cellulose gel (Thorén and Aspenberg, 1993), defective form of Pseudomonas exotoxin (Siegall et al., 1994), fibrin adhesive carrier (Walter et al., 1996), biodegredable hydrogen gelatin (Tabata et al., 1999), natural coral, and collagen ()). Obviously, as indicated (Sikiric et al., 2018), there is an inescapable diversity of the carriers and thereby, an evident diversity of the obtained beneficial effects, and disable conclusion. Likewise, for bone morphogenic proteins (BMPs), at that time, besides bone matrix, the following biomaterials have been tested as carriers: calcium phosphate, collagen, gelatin, and starch (Miyamoto et al., 1992; Gao et al., 1993; Katoh et al., 1993; Kawai et al., 1993; ; Kato et al., 1995; Kawakami et al., 1997). Some carriers (true ceramics and pure titanium) remain in the bone tissue, whereas others (collagen and synthetic polymers) are absorbed. Some are absorbed so quickly that there is no enough time for a population of host cells to gather (Kawakami et al., 1997). Finally, the statement of Marshall Urist, the BMPs concept founder, about the mechanism of the release from BMP delivery system to mesenchymal cell receptor mechanisms as obscure and under intensive investigation in academic and industrial laboratories (Urist, 1996) is true also nowadays, and it can be generally applied to any of the peptide + carrier complexes.
Contrarily, BPC 157 has a general healing argument as general application protocol. Namely, it is always applied alone (Sikiric et al., 1993; Sikiric et al., 2006; Sikiric et al., 2010; Sikiric et al., 2011; Sikiric et al., 2012; Sikiric et al., 2013; Seiwerth et al., 2014; Sikiric et al., 2014; Sikiric et al., 2016; Sikiric et al., 2017; Kang et al., 2018; Seiwerth et al., 2018; Sikiric et al., 2018; Gwyer et al., 2019; Park et al., 2020; Sikiric et al., 2020a; Sikiric et al., 2020b). Unlike other growth factors, which need carrier(s) addition, and are rapidly destroyed in human gastric juice, BPC 157 is native and stable in human gastric juice for more than 24 h (Sikiric et al., 2018; Sikiric et al., 2020a; Sikiric et al., 2020b). As BPC 157 counteracts lesions in the whole gastrointestinal tract produced by various noxious procedures (Sikiric et al., 1993; Sikiric et al., 2006; Sikiric et al., 2010; Sikiric et al., 2011; Sikiric et al., 2012; Sikiric et al., 2013; Seiwerth et al., 2014; Sikiric et al., 2014; Sikiric et al., 2016; Sikiric et al., 2017; Kang et al., 2018; Seiwerth et al., 2018; Sikiric et al., 2018; Gwyer et al., 2019; Park et al., 2020; Sikiric et al., 2020a; Sikiric et al., 2020b), it may be indeed that it may endogenously maintain gastrointestinal mucosa integrity (Sikiric et al., 1993; Sikiric et al., 2006; Sikiric et al., 2010; Sikiric et al., 2011; Sikiric et al., 2012; Sikiric et al., 2013; Seiwerth et al., 2014; Sikiric et al., 2014; Sikiric et al., 2016; Sikiric et al., 2017; Kang et al., 2018; Seiwerth et al., 2018; Sikiric et al., 2018; Gwyer et al., 2019; Park et al., 2020; Sikiric et al., 2020a; Sikiric et al., 2020b). Consequently, BPC 157 may have beneficial activity with the same dose range, and same equipotent routes of application, regardless of injury tested (Sikiric et al., 1993; Sikiric et al., 2006; Sikiric et al., 2010; Sikiric et al., 2011; Sikiric et al., 2012; Sikiric et al., 2013; Seiwerth et al., 2014; Sikiric et al., 2014; Sikiric et al., 2016; Sikiric et al., 2017; Kang et al., 2018; Seiwerth et al., 2018; Sikiric et al., 2018; Gwyer et al., 2019; Park et al., 2020; Sikiric et al., 2020a; Sikiric et al., 2020b). Therefore, this could be clearly generalized, and thus, its own effect unmistakably ascribed only to the given peptide (for review, see Seiwerth et al., 2018). Besides, as indicated specifically in skin wound healing (Tkalcevic et al., 2007), BPC 157 half-life is long enough to exert a therapeutically stimulating effect on connective tissue growth (Tkalcevic et al., 2007). In sponge exudates, it remains active at the site of wounds for several hours (Tkalcevic et al., 2007).
The generalization of the skin wound healing therapy (Seiwerth et al., 1997; Mikus et al., 2001; Sikiric et al., 2003; Xue et al., 2004a; ; Seveljevic-Jaran et al., 2006; Tkalcevic et al., 2007; Huang et al., 2015) as a particular point, will be illustrated with the subsequent successful healing of the various fistulas (thereby, the simultaneous healing of the different tissues) (Klicek et al., 2008; Skorjanec et al., 2009; ; Skorjanec et al., 2015; ; Grgic et al., 2016; Sikiric et al., 2020a) (see Fistula Healing as Support). Next, its particular therapeutic result on wound healing is decreased bleeding (Stupnisek et al., 2012; Stupnisek et al., 2015), and during wounding and recovery, all four major events in clot formation and dissolution were accomplished (Stupnisek et al., 2012). This was illustrated in the therapy of the bleeding disorders (Stupnisek et al., 2012; Stupnisek et al., 2015) (see Therapy of Bleeding Disorders as Support).
Fistula Healing as Support
BPC 157 application successfully cured various fistulas (Sikiric et al., 2020a). Anastomoses between two defects in the corresponding tissues (i.e., in esophagus and skin (), stomach and skin (Skorjanec et al., 2009), duodenum and skin (Skorjanec et al., 2015), colon and skin (Klicek et al., 2008), colon and bladder (Grgic et al., 2016), and rectum and vagina ()) depict the various fistulas (Sikiric et al., 2020a). Likewise, these defects of the controlled size may fairly illustrate accelerated or enabled healing (i. e., closure) and wound/gastrointestinal ulcer relation (Sikiric et al., 2020a).
Of note, the methodology of this healing evidence (Klicek et al., 2008; Skorjanec et al., 2009; ; Skorjanec et al., 2015; ; Grgic et al., 2016; Sikiric et al., 2020a) may contrast with the miscellaneous underlying fistula causes, various origin and location and different occurrences (Orangio, 2010; Visschers et al., 2012; Tonolini and Magistrelli, 2017). Likewise, this approach may contrast with therapeutic tactics for fistulas, which depend on their location and severity of occurrence (Orangio, 2010; Visschers et al., 2012; Tonolini and Magistrelli, 2017). Also, it opposes the nowadays aggressive wound management if it considers in fistulas healing mostly local skin protection (Orangio, 2010; Visschers et al., 2012; Tonolini and Magistrelli, 2017). On the other hand, this healing evidence as such (Klicek et al., 2008; Skorjanec et al., 2009; ; Skorjanec et al., 2015; ; Grgic et al., 2016; Sikiric et al., 2020a) may accommodate and resolve the mentioned fistula diversity (Orangio, 2010; Visschers et al., 2012; Tonolini and Magistrelli, 2017) as a common healing denominator providing simultaneous healing of different tissues.
Consequently, we hold fistulas commonality (Klicek et al., 2008; Skorjanec et al., 2009; ; Skorjanec et al., 2015; ; Grgic et al., 2016; Sikiric et al., 2020a) and thereby, the revealing common resolution (Sikiric et al., 2020a). There are two different tissues simultaneously affected and a healing process that would organize synchronized healing (Sikiric et al., 2020a). Thus, the main implication of the fistula healing model as wounds with abnormal connections is the verification of the effectiveness of the skin wound healing as understood with BPC 157 effects in the skin wound models (Seiwerth et al., 1997; Mikus et al., 2001; Sikiric et al., 2003; Xue et al., 2004a; ; Seveljevic-Jaran et al., 2006; Tkalcevic et al., 2007; Huang et al., 2015). That healing may be smoothly generalized simultaneously to the other tissues (Figure 3), and this particular balanced modulatory action may have the general significance, with the eventual healing of the affected tissues (Figure 4) (Klicek et al., 2008; Skorjanec et al., 2009; ; Skorjanec et al., 2015; ; Grgic et al., 2016; Sikiric et al., 2020a). Otherwise, the healing of the different tissues, which are normally not connected, would hardly provide a simultaneous wound healing effect, particularly in the most critical circumstances (Klicek et al., 2008; Skorjanec et al., 2009; ; Skorjanec et al., 2015; ; Grgic et al., 2016; Sikiric et al., 2020a). Note that due to the relative small size of the rats, rat fistulas regularly appeared as large and complex, and thereby, in this respect, corresponded to the worst presentation in the patients (Klicek et al., 2008; Skorjanec et al., 2009; ; Skorjanec et al., 2015; ; Grgic et al., 2016; Sikiric et al., 2020a). Harmful disturbances and poor healing of rectovaginal fistulas in patients () may occur also in rats (i.e., fecal leaking through the vagina). Rats could not endure more than 4 days with esophagocutaneous fistulas (). However, with BPC 157 therapy, both skin and esophageal defect may be closed without mortality (). Thereby, that healing in rat fistulas in these experiments should be highly relevant (Klicek et al., 2008; Skorjanec et al., 2009; ; Skorjanec et al., 2015; ; Grgic et al., 2016; Sikiric et al., 2020a). Obviously, a distinctive correlation follows with the major systems generally involved in the healing processes (Sikiric et al., 2020a).
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 4
). (B) Initial presentation of the persistent gastrocutaneous fistula and BPC 157 therapy effect. Huge gastrocutaneous fistula leaking at 1st postoperative day in control rats (c) and dried fistula without any leakage in BPC 157 rats (b (Skorjanec et al., 2009). The rats received pentadecapeptide BPC 157 (0.16 μg/ml) in drinking water (12 ml/rat) until sacrifice or drinking water only. A comparative study of the BPC 157 beneficial effect was done with intraperitoneal application, once daily, intraperitoneally (per kg body weight) 10 μg, 10 ng, or 10 pg BPC 157, while standard agents 10 mg atropine, 50 mg ranitidine, and 50 mg omeprazole provide only a weak effect. 6-alpha-methylprednisolone (1 mg/kg intraperitoneally, once daily) was given alone which produced a considerable worsening and was completely eliminated with coadministration of BPC 157 10 μg/kg intraperitoneally. (C) Persistent duodenocutaneous fistula and BPC 157 therapy effect. BPC 157 was given per-orally, in drinking water (10 μg/kg, 10 ng/kg, i.e., 0.16 μg/ml, 0.16 ng/ml, and 12 ml/rat/day) till sacrifice, or alternatively, 10 μg/kg and 10 ng/kg intraperitoneally; first application at 30 min after surgery, last at 24 h before sacrifice. To establish a connection with the NO-system, l-NAME (5 mg/kg intraperitoneally) (worsening) and/or L-arginine (100 mg/kg intraperitoneally) (beneficial effect) were given alone or together; first application at 30 min after surgery, last at 24 h before sacrifice. BPC 157 10 μg/kg, intraperitoneally or per-orally, was given with l-NAME (5 mg/kg intraperitoneally) and/or L-arginine (100 mg/kg intraperitoneally) and it maintained its original beneficial effect. Controls simultaneously received an equivolume of saline (5.0 ml/kg intraperitoneally) or water only. Duodenal fistula leaking through skin defect and still open duodenal defect at 2 weeks following fistula creation by anastomosis between the skin and duodenum defect (c). Closed both skin and duodenal defect in BPC 157 rats (fistula closed, b) (Skorjanec et al., 2015). (D) Persistent colocutaneous fistula and BPC 157 therapy effect. BPC 157 accelerated parenterally or per-orally the healing of colonic and skin defect, leading to the suitable closure of the fistula, macro/microscopically, biomechanically, and functionally (larger water volume sustained without fistula leaking) (Klicek et al., 2013). In anesthetized rats, we created the colocutaneous fistula at 5 cm from the anus, colon defect of 5 mm, and skin defect of 5 mm. The rats received pentadecapeptide BPC 157 (0.16 μg/ml) or nothing in the drinking water (12.0 ml/rat) until the sacrifice or once daily, intraperitoneally BPC 157 10.0 μg/kg, 10.0 ng/kg, or saline (5.0 ml/kg b.w.); first application at 30 min after surgery, final 24 h before sacrifice. For comparison, sulfasalazine (50 mg/kg intraperitoneally, once daily) (moderately effective) or 6-α-methylprednisolone (1.0 mg/kg intraperitoneally, once daily) (aggravation) was given. To establish connection with the NO-system, L-NAME (5.0 mg/kg) (worsening) and L-arginine (200.0 mg/kg) (effective only with blunted NO-synthesis, but not alone) were given intraperitoneally alone or in combination (d-arginine 200.0 mg/kg was not effective, data not shown). BPC 157 given with NO-agents, which maintained its original effect. Initial colon defect presentation at 4 weeks following fistula creation by anastomosis between the skin and colon defect (c, middle). Presentation after next 2 weeks (c, b): in control rats, drinking water was continuously given (12 ml/day/rat) (defecation through fistula, c) and in BPC 157 rats, BPC 157 (10 μg/kg/day) was given in drinking water (0.16 μg/ml/day/rat) (fistula closed, b). Internal fistulas. (E) Persistent colovesical fistula and BPC 157 therapy effect. With internal fistulas in the colon and the bladder, with BPC 157 therapy, the colon and bladder defects showed simultaneous healing effects, including closing of the colovesical fistula in a matching healing process (Grgic et al., 2016). BPC 157 was given per-orally in drinking water (10 μg/kg, 12 ml/rat/day) until sacrifice, or 10 μg/kg or 10 ng/kg was given intraperitoneally once daily, with the first application at 30 min after surgery and the last application at 24 h before sacrifice. The controls simultaneously received an equivolume of saline (5.0 ml/kg ip) or water only (12 ml/rat/day). At postoperative day 28, voiding through fistula in controls (fecaluria) (c) and a normal voiding in BPC 157-rats (b). (F) Persistent rectovaginal fistula and BPC 157 therapy effect. We suggest BPC 157 healing of the rats’ rectovaginal fistulas (since spontaneous only poor healing as those in humans) as a realization of the internal fistula-healing concept, an efficient “wound-healing capability” as the therapy of the complicated internal fistula healing. BPC 157 was given per-orally, in drinking water (10 μg/kg or 10 ng/kg, 0.16 μg/ml, or 0.16 ng/ml 12 ml/rat/day) till sacrifice, or alternatively, 10 μg/kg and 10 ng/kg intraperitoneally once daily; first application at 30 min after surgery, last at 24 h before sacrifice. Controls simultaneously received an equivolume of saline (5.0 ml/kg ip) or water only (12 ml/rat/day). At postoperative day 21, defecation through vagina in controls (c) and a normal defecation in BPC 157 rats (b) ().
Basically, closure of fistulas may be a measure of particular agent’s capacity to cure, at the same time, the skin wound and other corresponding tissues’ wound (Klicek et al., 2008; Skorjanec et al., 2009; ; Skorjanec et al., 2015; ; Grgic et al., 2016; Sikiric et al., 2020a). The healing of the skin and colon defect, as colocutaneous fistulas, stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157, and the therapy regimens (per-oral, in drinking water; or intraperitoneal (once time daily) for 28 days) may serve as a prototype (for review, see Sikiric et al., 1993; Sikiric et al., 2006; Sikiric et al., 2010; Sikiric et al., 2011; Sikiric et al., 2012; Sikiric et al., 2013; Seiwerth et al., 2014; Sikiric et al., 2014; Sikiric et al., 2016; Sikiric et al., 2017; Kang et al., 2018; Seiwerth et al., 2018; Sikiric et al., 2018; Gwyer et al., 2019; Sikiric et al., 2020a; Sikiric et al., 2020b).
Also, a similar protocol was successful in the therapy of the other fistulas, that is, gastrocutaneous (Skorjanec et al., 2009), esophagocutaneous (), duodenocutaneous (Skorjanec et al., 2015), vesicovaginal (Grgic et al., 2016), and rectovaginal () in rats. Noteworthy, as shown in separate studies, BPC 157 counteracts the known lesions in the skin (Seiwerth et al., 1997; Mikus et al., 2001; Sikiric et al., 2003; Xue et al., 2004a; ; Seveljevic-Jaran et al., 2006; Tkalcevic et al., 2007; Huang et al., 2015), stomach (Sikiric et al., 1997a; Petek et al., 1999; Mikus et al., 2001; Xue et al., 2004b; ; Ilic et al., 2009; Ilic et al., 2011a), duodenum (Sikiric et al., 1994; Sikiric et al., 1997b; Sikiric et al., 2001; ; ), esophagus (Sikiric et al., 1999b; Petrovic et al., 2006; Dobric et al., 2007; Djakovic et al., 2016), colon (Sikiric et al., 2001; Klicek et al., 2013), rectum (Sikiric et al., 2001; Klicek et al., 2013), bladder (Sucic et al., 2019), and vagina (Jandric et al., 2013), whereas the fistula studies show an additional combining healing effect, providing different combinations of the lesions that were simultaneously included (Figures 3, 4), thereby a proof of the concept for a quite general healing effect (Klicek et al., 2008; Skorjanec et al., 2009; ; Skorjanec et al., 2015; ; Grgic et al., 2016; Sikiric et al., 2020a). A particular relationship was established with the NO-system, and the advantage of the BPC 157 over the corresponding standard agents (i.e., corticosteroids, sulfasalazine, H2 blockers, anticholinergics, and proton pump inhibitors) which showed only weak, if any, effect on these fistulas closing (Klicek et al., 2008; Skorjanec et al., 2009; ; Skorjanec et al., 2015; ; Grgic et al., 2016; Sikiric et al., 2020a).
Gastrocutaneous (Skorjanec et al., 2009) and/or duodenocutaneous (Skorjanec et al., 2015) fistulas, as persistent lesions, are another instructive prototype of the “two-ways” model. Often, the peptic ulcers’ inability to heal is taken as analogous to the chronic skin wound inability to heal; thus, resistant peptic ulcers equal to resistant chronic skin ulcers, both unable to heal (Skorjanec et al., 2009). Contrary to the use of the gastrocutaneous fistula for the secretory studies only (Skorjanec et al., 2009), the wound/gastrointestinal ulcer relation of these gastrocutaneous fistulas healing exemplifies the reported particular “self-controlling healing system” (Skorjanec et al., 2009). Only the simultaneous healing of the skin defect and the stomach defect would lead to the fistula closure (Skorjanec et al., 2009). Since classic models are not combined, gastric/duodenal ulcer models (Selye and Szabo, 1973; Robert, 1979; Okabe and Amagase, 2005) would define agents’ action. Likewise, skin defect models (Rantfors and Cassuto, 2003; Numata et al., 2006; Rao et al., 2007) would explain agents’ action (“one-way” model). Thus, there is a practical advantage of the composed effects of the administered agents, and the gastrocutaneous fistulas as a combined (“two-ways”) model. For example, for mutual definition (model → agent; agent → model), there are prostaglandins analogues—ethanol model (Robert, 1979) relationships, NSAIDs—acetic acid model (Okabe and Amagase, 2005) relationships, dopamine agonists—cysteamine model (Selye and Szabo, 1973) relationships, and H2 blockers—cysteamine model (Selye and Szabo, 1973) relationships. Thereby, studies of gastrocutaneous fistulas (Skorjanec et al., 2009) may resolve in the wound/gastrointestinal ulcer relation. This may be the improvement or aggravation that tested agents can exhibit of healing. This may be healing of the skin or gastric wound, or both, or neither of them, simultaneously or not. This may identify the so-called parallel or non-parallel healing actions, with the final end result, positive (fistula closing) or negative (fistula remains open) (Skorjanec et al., 2009). Besides, BPC 157 promptly ameliorates both skin and stomach mucosa healing and induces closure of fistulas, with no leakage after up to 20 ml water intragastrically, including also counteraction of 6-alpha-methylprednisolone aggravation (Skorjanec et al., 2009).
Therapy of Bleeding Disorders as Support
The BPC 157 therapy of the bleeding disorders can be considered as an implementation and support of its wound healing effect (Seiwerth et al., 1997; Mikus et al., 2001; Sikiric et al., 2003; Xue et al., 2004a; ; Seveljevic-Jaran et al., 2006; Tkalcevic et al., 2007; Huang et al., 2015) that can be purposefully extended (Stupnisek et al., 2012; Stupnisek et al., 2015). This particular balanced modulatory action in wound healing, which rapidly appears, along with this pentadecapeptide particular characteristics, may be even more interesting and more effective to be demonstrated in relation that in wounding, it decreases the bleeding. Namely, as curing of the wounds includes resolution of vessel constriction, the primary platelet plug, the secondary plug, and resolution of the clot (Stupnisek et al., 2012; Stupnisek et al., 2015) stabilize gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157, which is effective in wound healing (Figures 1–6) (Seiwerth et al., 1997; Mikus et al., 2001; Sikiric et al., 2003; Xue et al., 2004a; ; Seveljevic-Jaran et al., 2006; Tkalcevic et al., 2007; Huang et al., 2015); it also counteracts the bleeding disorders, amputation, organ perforation, and/or anti-coagulants application or major vessel occlusion (Stupnisek et al., 2012; Stupnisek et al., 2015; Drmic et al., 2018; Vukojevic et al., 2018; Gojkovic et al., 2020; Kolovrat et al., 2020). This reversal was seen also on the background of the disturbed prostaglandins- and NO-systems, prostaglandins synthesis inhibition as well as NO-overstimulation (NOS-substrate L-arginine) or NO-blockade (N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME)) (Stupnisek et al., 2012; Stupnisek et al., 2015). This should be taken along with its endothelium maintenance as the follow-up of its cytoprotection capability (Robert, 1979; Sikiric et al., 2010; Sikiric et al., 2018), along with the evidence that pentadecapeptide BPC 157 may prevent and/or attenuate or eliminate, thus, counteract both developing and already formed both arterial thrombosis (Hrelec et al., 2009; Gojkovic et al., 2020; Kolovrat et al., 2020), and venous thrombosis (Vukojevic et al., 2018; Gojkovic et al., 2020; Kolovrat et al., 2020). This therapy rapidly reversed the hind legs failure after abdominal aorta anastomosis (Hrelec et al., 2009). After occlusion of the inferior caval vein, accordingly, BPC 157 counteracts the whole Virchow triad (Vukojevic et al., 2018) and inferior caval vein syndrome (Vukojevic et al., 2018). At a particular point, venography demonstrated a rapid recruitment of the collaterals to bypass occlusion and reestablish blood flow (Vukojevic et al., 2018). In the rats with infrarenally occluded inferior caval vein, the left ovarian vein is rapidly presented as the major pathway (Figure 7). The other veins (such as epigastric veins, intercostal veins, mammary veins, iliolumbar veins, paraumbilical vein, azygos vein, and right ovarian vein) accordingly appear. Together, this means rapidly activated efficient compensatory pathways and the ligation stop at the inferior caval vein efficiently bypassed (Vukojevic et al., 2018). Both kidneys and canal systems and confluence of the inferior caval vein to the right heart demonstrated that the trapped blood volume is rapidly redistributed (Vukojevic et al., 2018). This commonly occurred with all of the used BPC 157 therapeutic regimens as well as at both early and advanced stages (Vukojevic et al., 2018). There is a similar beneficial effect in the rats with the Pringle maneuver, ischemia, reperfusion, and suprahepatic inferior caval vein occlusion (Budd–Chiari syndrome) (Gojkovic et al., 2020; Kolovrat et al., 2020). Thus, confronted with major vessels occlusion, BPC 157 commonly alleviates the peripheral vascular occlusion disturbances (Vukojevic et al., 2018; Gojkovic et al., 2020; Kolovrat et al., 2020) rapidly activating alternative bypassing pathways to adequately reestablish the blood flow (Duzel et al., 2017; ; Drmic et al., 2018; Vukojevic et al., 2018; Gojkovic et al., 2020; Kolovrat et al., 2020). Once the therapeutic effect begun, the therapeutic effect is continuous, and neither of the continuous ligation-induced disturbances reappeared (Vukojevic et al., 2018; Gojkovic et al., 2020; Kolovrat et al., 2020). Furthermore, direct vein injury, thrombosis, thrombocytopenia, and prolonged bleeding were all counteracted (Vukojevic et al., 2018; Gojkovic et al., 2020; Kolovrat et al., 2020). Trapped blood volume redistribution rapidly occurred throughout rapid presentation of collaterals (Vukojevic et al., 2018; Gojkovic et al., 2020; Kolovrat et al., 2020). Venous hypertension and arterial hypotension and tachycardia, rapidly presented, which were collectively attenuated or counteracted, emphasize BPC 157s therapeutic effects (Vukojevic et al., 2018; Gojkovic et al., 2020; Kolovrat et al., 2020). All these events mean that the counteraction of the full syndrome occurs (Vukojevic et al., 2018; Gojkovic et al., 2020; Kolovrat et al., 2020). This also means the counteracted oxidative stress was as a result of the lysis of endothelial cells (Vukojevic et al., 2018). Counteracted low NO-level in inferior caval vein and particular gene expression (i.e. Egr, Nos, Srf, Vegfr, Akt1, Plcɣ, and Kras) provide a likely special point to explain how the dysfunction and its counteraction is causal to, or result of (Vukojevic et al., 2018) (see Genes Expression as Support).
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 6
FIGURE 7
Finally, therapy as the recovering effect it has on occluded vessels (Duzel et al., 2017; ; Drmic et al., 2018; Vukojevic et al., 2018; Gojkovic et al., 2020; Kolovrat et al., 2020) bypassing the occlusion (Duzel et al., 2017; ; Drmic et al., 2018; Vukojevic et al., 2018; Gojkovic et al., 2020; Kolovrat et al., 2020) appears as the specific effect of BPC 157 in ischemia/reperfusion (Duzel et al., 2017; ; Drmic et al., 2018; Vukojevic et al., 2018; Gojkovic et al., 2020; Kolovrat et al., 2020). There is benefit in the inferior caval vein occlusion (Vukojevic et al., 2018; Gojkovic et al., 2020), also in colitis ischemia/reperfusion (Duzel et al., 2017), duodenal venous congestion lesions (), and cecum perforation (Drmic et al., 2018), arising from BPC 157 therapy in addition to the deep vein thrombosis (Vukojevic et al., 2018; Gojkovic et al., 2020; Kolovrat et al., 2020). Recently, in the bile duct ligation-induced liver cirrhosis (Sever et al., 2019), no portal hypertension development and reversal of the already preexisting portal hypertension to normal values (Sever et al., 2019) have become possible.
Besides, BPC 157 had no effect on clotting parameters as shown in the previous amputation and/or anticoagulant studies (Stupnisek et al., 2012; Stupnisek et al., 2015; Vukojevic et al., 2018), while counteracting prolonged bleeding and thrombocytopenia (Stupnisek et al., 2012; Stupnisek et al., 2015; Vukojevic et al., 2018). Consistently, it was shown that BPC 157 maintains thrombocytes’ function (Konosic et al., 2019).
Here, the concluding evidence may be that BPC 157 counteracted adhesion formation after abdominal wall injury. Additionally, its counteracting effect occurred even with pre-existing adhesions ().
Thus, with the damage of the peritoneum, two damaged peritoneal surfaces come into contact with each other, and the coagulation cascade is activated (Fortin et al., 2015). Contrarily, BPC 157 counteracts the whole Virchow triad (Vukojevic et al., 2018; Gojkovic et al., 2020; Kolovrat et al., 2020), venous thrombosis (Vukojevic et al., 2018; Gojkovic et al., 2020; Kolovrat et al., 2020), and arterial thrombosis (Hrelec et al., 2009; Gojkovic et al., 2020; Kolovrat et al., 2020). Also, BPC 157 administration attenuates prolonged bleeding and thrombocytopenia after amputation, organ perforation, and anticoagulant use or prolonged major vessel occlusion (Stupnisek et al., 2012; Stupnisek et al., 2015; Drmic et al., 2018; Vukojevic et al., 2018). Consequently, it may be likely that BPC 157 may also interfere with and reverse the process that would result in fusion to form a connection, for example, adhesion (). Therefore, less adhesion formation as well as reversing existing adhesions, the restoration of normal tissue structure and function, suggest that BPC 157 may act with the temporary role of fibrin in healing without adhesions that must be purposefully degraded by the fibrinolytic system (; ).
Gene Expression as Support
In general, as before (Vukojevic et al., 2018), our focus was on the early and very early periods providing the general understanding of the precise coordination of cellular events, the formation and modification of the vascular system, and molecular signaling by numerous molecules which are responsible for fast activation and modulation of these events (Vukojevic et al., 2018).
For this purpose, the findings obtained in the rats with infrarenal occlusion of the inferior caval vein may be noteworthy (Vukojevic et al., 2018). The investigation was done at two particular intervals, at 1 and 24 h. Assessed were the inferior caval vein (which was occluded), right ovarian vein (which appears as blind vessel due to the infrarenal occlusion), and left ovarian vein (which serves as a bypassing pathway) (Vukojevic et al., 2018). With BPC 157 administration, these beneficial effects were combined with particular specificities with the altered genes’ expression (Egr, Nos, Srf, Vegr, Plcɣ, and Kras) or no change (Akt1 continuously remained unchanged) (Vukojevic et al., 2018).
BPC 157 administration raises several questions regarding its therapeutic role in the process occurring in rats with obstructed vessels (Sikiric et al., 2014; Duzel et al., 2017; Vukojevic et al., 2018; Gojkovic et al., 2020; Kolovrat et al., 2020) and with vessels that used to be obstructed (Duzel et al., 2017; Kolovrat et al., 2020; Vukojevic et al., 2020). Rapid endothelial restoration and activation of the major collaterals (in addition, there are abundant anastomoses between individual vessels on both surfaces of the large intestine (Kachlik, et al., 2010)) may reorganize blood flow (Duzel et al., 2017; Vukojevic et al., 2018; Gojkovic et al., 2020; Kolovrat et al., 2020). Additionally, the rapid therapeutic effect of BPC 157 is evidenced by rapid reversal of the negative chain of events (Vukojevic et al., 2018). This included circumvention of the complex downhill syndrome, as well as a sudden decrease of blood supply, decreased NO levels in the inferior caval vein tissue, an immediate heavy loss of endothelial cells from the vascular wall, a lower eNOS production ability (), and finally, the elimination of oxidative stress due to endothelial cell lysis (Rangan and Bulkley, 1993; Schiller et al., 1993). BPC 157 has been able to restore endothelial integrity and reverse most oxidative stress-induced damage (Duzel et al., 2017; ; Drmic et al., 2018; Vukojevic et al., 2018; Sever et al., 2019). Moreover, it largely interacts with the NO-system (Sikiric et al., 2014), the endothelium being significant in that demonstrates increased plasma NO-values, but normalized 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA)-values, as well as adequate endothelial NO-synthase (eNOS) system function (Duzel et al., 2017; ; Drmic et al., 2018; Vukojevic et al., 2018; Sever et al., 2019) and blood supply. After consideration of the aforementioned BPC 157–induced changes, several applications of BPC 157 with respect to its therapeutic effects on rats with preexisting (Duzel et al., 2017; Kolovrat et al., 2020; Vukojevic et al., 2020) or existing vessel obstruction (Sikiric et al., 2014; Duzel et al., 2017; Vukojevic et al., 2018; Gojkovic et al., 2020; Kolovrat et al., 2020) can be foreseen.
More specifically, this may be observed with respect to certain genes, including Egr, Nos, Srf, Vegr, Akt1, Plcɣ, and Kras genes (Vukojevic et al., 2018), all of which are responsible for the synthesis of factors necessary for a diverse set of processes. The factors have proadhesive, proinflammatory, and prothromobic roles, all of which become pertinent after vascular injury (Schweighofer et al., 2007; ; Hinterseher et al., 2015). In these, the described BPC 157 efficacy is considered as an important demonstration of the confirmation that BPC 157 could ensure a particular specificity within the Egr, Nos, Srf, Vegfr, Akt1, Plcɣ, and Kras pathways (Vukojevic et al., 2018). After administering BPC 157 to rats with a ligated inferior caval vein, the beneficial effects induced by BPC 157 were complemented with altered Egr, Nos, Srf, Vegr, and Kras gene expression. Specifically, this included increased (Egr, Nos, Srf, and Kras) or decreased (Egr, Vegfr, and Plcɣ) gene expression, while Akt1 gene expression remained unchanged (Vukojevic et al., 2018). These changes in gene expression are dependent on the time interval during which the genes were analyzed, as well as the type of vessel investigated. For example, increased levels of the Egr gene were observed at 1 h, Nos, Srf, and Kras genes demonstrated increased expression at 1 and 24 h in all vessels, and Egr expression was increased at 24 h in both ovarian veins. Likewise, decreased gene expression of Egr was evident at 24 h in the inferior caval vein, Vegfr expression was decreased at 1 h and 24 h in all vessels, and Plcɣ gene expression was decreased at 24 h in the inferior caval vein. Akt1 remained unchanged in the inferior caval vein, as well as in the right ovarian vein and left ovarian vein (Vukojevic et al., 2018). Consequently, the aforementioned data suggest that particular pathways may have both local and systemic relevance. Collectively, these pathways may be responsible for the novel balance (of gene expression) achieved and ultimately, maintained. Finally, we should emphasize the rapid presentation of all of these effects. Obviously, they occurred before the initiation of angiogenesis (Sikiric et al., 1993; Sikiric et al., 2006; Sikiric et al., 2010; Sikiric et al., 2011; Sikiric et al., 2012; Sikiric et al., 2013; Seiwerth et al., 2014; Sikiric et al., 2014; Sikiric et al., 2016; Sikiric et al., 2017; Kang et al., 2018; Seiwerth et al., 2018; Sikiric et al., 2018; Gwyer et al., 2019; Park et al., 2020; Sikiric et al., 2020a; Sikiric et al., 2020b). Thus, we can assume that pathways additional to those involved in angiogenesis (Vukojevic et al., 2018) are associated with the increased expression, internalization of VEGFR2, and the activation of the VEGFR2-Akt-eNOS signaling pathway (Hsieh et al., 2017).
Furthermore, we additionally challenged the most immediate period after injury induction (skin defect) (i.e., 2, 5, and 10 min) (Figure 8) due to the evidence that BPC 157 did ensure a particular specificity within the pathways (at least, Egr, Nos, Srf, Vegr, Akt1, Plcɣ, and Kras genes) (Vukojevic et al., 2018). We emphasize the immediate relationship of the pentadecapeptide BPC 157 with the genes involved in cellular signaling pathways important for the regulation of angiogenesis. That point is supported with the extensive gene expression analysis. With the therapy done immediately after wounding, we performed the Akt1, Braf, Egfr, Egr1, Grb2, Hdac7, Kras, Mapk1, Mapk3, Mapk14, Nos3, Pik3cd, Plcg1, Prkcg, Ptk2, Pxn, Src, Srf, and Vegfa genes expression analysis in the rats’ excision wounds, in the skin, and subcutaneous tissue, done at 2, 5, and 10 min following BPC 157 application (Figure 8). Thus, considering the quite rapid presentation of the beneficial effect of BPC 157 in wound healing, it is likely indicative that the expression of all of the genes Akt1, Braf, Egfr, Egr1, Grb2, Hdac7, Kras, Mapk1, Mapk3, Mapk14, Nos3, Pik3cd, Plcg1, Prkcg, Ptk2, Pxn, Src, Srf, and Vegfa is increased at the 10-min interval. An additional indicative point is sequential involvement. The increased expression of the Akt1, Grb2, Nos3, Pik3cd, Prkcg, Ptk2, and Src appears immediately at 2-min interval. Increased expression of Braf, Egfr, Egr1, Hdac7, Mapk1, Mapk3, Mapk14, Plcg1, Prkcg, Ptk2, Pxn, Src, Srf, and Vegfa is noted at 5 min. The increased expression of the Kras appears at 10 min. Of note, an enormous number of the interactions between the genes involved obscure the final outcome. However, the evidence is obtained that BPC 157 action initially affects expression of particular genes (i.e., Akt1, Grb2, Nos3, Pik3cd, Prkcg, Ptk2, and Src). Then, it involves other set of the genes (Braf, Egfr, Egr1, Hdac7, Mapk1, Mapk3, Mapk14, Plcg1, Prkcg, Ptk2, Pxn, Src, Srf, and Vegfa). Subsequently, it concludes with additional set of genes (i.e., Kras). Together, these may likely represent the complex way of how the action, which will eventually resolve the lesion, may start and progress.
FIGURE 8
The Effect on Other Tissues Healing as Support
Defining of the adequate skin wound healing effect (Seiwerth et al., 1997; Mikus et al., 2001; Sikiric et al., 2003; Xue et al., 2004a; ; Seveljevic-Jaran et al., 2006; Tkalcevic et al., 2007; Huang et al., 2015) indicates its essential application in the other tissues healing, particularly, the muscle (Figures 9–12), tendon (Figure 12), ligament, and bone (Figure 13) (Sikiric et al., 1993; Sikiric et al., 2006; Sikiric et al., 2010; Sikiric et al., 2011; Sikiric et al., 2012; Sikiric et al., 2013; Seiwerth et al., 2014; Sikiric et al., 2014; Sikiric et al., 2016; Sikiric et al., 2017; Kang et al., 2018; Seiwerth et al., 2018; Sikiric et al., 2018; Gwyer et al., 2019; Park et al., 2020; Sikiric et al., 2020a; Sikiric et al., 2020b). Especially, BPC 157 exhibits both special muscle healing (i.e., after transection of major muscle (Figures 9, 11, 12), crush (Figure 10), and denervation (Figure 11) (Staresinic et al., 2006; Novinscak et al., 2008; Mihovil et al., 2009; Pevec et al., 2010)), and tendon healing (Staresinic et al., 2003; Krivic et al., 2006; Krivic et al., 2008) (i.e., after the Achilles tendon transection and detachment from calcaneal bone), or ligament healing () (i.e., medial collateral ligament transection). In addition, along with function recovery (Figure 11), BPC 157 counteracts muscle disability related to various noxious procedures, after abdominal aorta anastomosis (Hrelec et al., 2009), L2-L3 compression (Perovic et al., 2019), severe electrolytes disturbances (; Medvidovic-Grubisic et al., 2017), application of the succinylcholine (Stambolija et al., 2016), neuroleptics (Jelovac et al., 1999; ), or neurotoxin (MPTP, cuprizone) (Sikiric et al., 1999c; Klicek et al., 2013). Also, BPC 157 counteracts tumor cachexia (Kang et al., 2018). There are counteracted muscle wasting, significantly corrected deranged muscle proliferation as well as myogenesis, counteracted increase of the proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and TNF-α, looking at muscle metabolism relevant to cancer cachexia as well as the changes in the expression of FoxO3a, p-AKT, p-mTOR, and P-GSK-3β (Kang et al., 2018). To illustrate the success of the application and the way of application efficacy, it may be instructive to mention the noted effect in the recovery of the transected sciatic nerve injury (providing the efficacy of the once intraperitoneal, intragastric application much like the application into the tube with inserted nerve stumps) (Gjurasin et al., 2010). In support, recently BPC 157 increased the survival rate of cultured enteric neurons and the proliferation rate of cultured enteric glial cells (Wang et al., 2019).
FIGURE 9
FIGURE 10
FIGURE 11
FIGURE 12
). In rats with bile duct ligation, BPC 157 counteracts cirrhosis and portal hypertension (gross rat presentation (B1), and after sacrifice, normal ears (B2), and liver presentation (B3)) much like it attenuates dermal, muscle (well-formed quadriceps muscle at day 72 after transection (b), tendon (tendon reattached to the calcaneous after detachement (B)), and ligament fibrosis and scar formation, and regained function (Mikus et al., 2001; Krivic et al., 2006; Staresinic et al., 2006; ).
FIGURE 13
In the aforementioned study by Hsieh and collaborators (Hsieh et al., 2017) that focused on the ischemic muscle model (achieved via removal of the femoral artery), the pro-angiogenic effects of BPC 157 are evident, given the increased expression, internalization of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2), and the activation of the VEGFR2-Akt-eNOS signaling pathway (Hsieh et al., 2017). BPC 157 promotes angiogenesis in the chick choriallantoic membrane (CAM) assay and tube formation assay (Hsieh et al., 2017). Additionally, it counteracts rat hind limb ischemia by accelerating blood flow recovery and vessel number (Hsieh et al., 2017). BPC 157 upregulates VEGFR2 expression in rats with hind limb ischemia and endothelial cell culture. BPC 157–induced VEGFR2 internalization is combined with VEGFR2-Akt-eNOS activation. Of note, that BPC 157 effect is particular (i.e., activated the phosphorylation of VEGFR2, Akt, and eNOS signaling pathway) and does not need other known ligands or shear stress (Hsieh et al., 2017).
Also, this tissue-specific effect is demonstrated in tendon tissue-specific healing, which occurs without side effects that are present with other peptides (Seiwerth et al., 2018). For instance, ossicle formation in Achilles tendon tissue appears with osteogenic protein 1 (OP-1) (Forslund and Aspenberg, 1998). Contrary to this, it does not induce ossicle formation in tendon or ligament tissue (Staresinic et al., 2003; Krivic et al., 2006; Krivic et al., 2008). Specifically, BPC 157 accelerates tendon- and (Staresinic et al., 2003; Krivic et al., 2006; Krivic et al., 2008) ligament-healing () and has a strong osteogenic effect the in non-union model (Sebecic et al., 1999) (and in other models, such as is observed with rat femoral head osteonecrosis (Gamulin et al., 2013), or alveolar bone loss (Keremi et al., 2009). Of note, in the tendon studies (; ), BPC 157–induced promotion of the ex vivo outgrowth of tendon fibroblasts from tendon explants, cell survival under stress, and the in vitro migration of tendon fibroblasts are the effects mediated by the activation of the focal adhesion kinase (FAK)–paxillin pathway (; ). Janus kinase (JAK) 2, the downstream signal pathway of growth hormone receptor, was activated in a time-dependent fashion via stimulation of the BPC 157–treated tendon fibroblasts with a growth hormone (; ). Thus, the BPC 157–induced increase of growth hormone receptor in tendon fibroblasts may potentiate the proliferative effect of growth hormone and contribute to tendon healing (; ).
Similarly, as the next wound-healing focus with BPC 157 therapy (Sever et al., 2019) administered per-orally, continuously in drinking water, or intraperitoneally, alleviated rats showed bile duct ligation (BDL) and counteracted BDL-induced liver cirrhosis (Sever et al., 2019). BPC 157 normalized MDA and NO-levels in the liver of BDL rats (Sever et al., 2019) and wound-healing response to chronic liver injury that may be accordingly modified (Figure 12) (; ; Wynn, 2008; Sever et al., 2019). There were cured jaundice, weight loss, liver enlargement, microscopy (i.e., piecemeal necrosis, focal lytic necrosis, apoptosis and focal inflammation, and disturbed cell proliferation (Ki-67-staining), cytoskeletal structure in the hepatic stellate cell (α-SMA staining), collagen presentation (Mallory staining), and biochemistry presentation (Sever et al., 2019), and counteracted the increased NOS3 expression, interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and IL-1β levels. There were both prophylactic and therapy effects. Developing portal hypertension as well as established portal hypertension were both rapidly counteracted in BDL rats (i.e., BPC 157 per-orally, in drinking water, since the end of week 4) (Sever et al., 2019). The balanced collagen synthesis and counteracted hepatic fibrosis (considered as a model of the wound-healing response to chronic liver injury), are along with BPC 157s particular interaction with several molecular pathways (Tkalcevic et al., 2007; ; ; ; Huang et al., 2015; Hsieh et al., 2017; Kang et al., 2018; Vukojevic et al., 2018; Sever et al., 2019; Park et al., 2020; Vukojevic et al., 2020). In addition, there is a likely analogy (see for review i.e., (Seiwerth et al., 2018)) with the attenuated fibrosis and scar formation in other tissues (i.e., the skin, muscle, tendon, and ligament) (Mikus et al., 2001; Sikiric et al., 2003; Staresinic et al., 2003; Krivic et al., 2006; Staresinic et al., 2006; Krivic et al., 2008; ). Also, they regained the dermal, muscle, tendon, and ligament functions (Mikus et al., 2001; Sikiric et al., 2003; Staresinic et al., 2003; Krivic et al., 2006; Staresinic et al., 2006; Krivic et al., 2008; ). These, as mentioned before, occur in the BPC 157s healing of the severe injuries, such as the skin burns (Mikus et al., 2001; Sikiric et al., 2003) or muscle (Staresinic et al., 2006) or tendon (Staresinic et al., 2003; Krivic et al., 2006; Krivic et al., 2008) or ligament () transection.
In this issue, the already mentioned Tkalcevic and collaborators’ study may be illustrative (Seveljevic-Jaran et al., 2006; Tkalcevic et al., 2007). A clear demonstration was obtained that BPC 157 stimulated both the egr-1 gene (critical in proliferation, differentiation, and inflammation during cholestatic liver injury, cytokine and growth factor generation, and early extracellular matrix (collagen) formation) (Kim et al., 2006; Zhang et al., 2011) and its co-repressor gene nab2 (Seveljevic-Jaran et al., 2006; Tkalcevic et al., 2007). Consequently, as also indicated in our other liver studies (Ilic et al., 2009; Ilic et al., 2010; Ilic et al., 2011a; Ilic et al., 2011b), BPC 157 (with nab2) may be a particular feedback-controlling mechanism.
The final point of the wound-healing focus with BPC 157 therapy (Seiwerth et al., 1997; Mikus et al., 2001; Sikiric et al., 2003; Xue et al., 2004a; ; Seveljevic-Jaran et al., 2006; Tkalcevic et al., 2007; Huang et al., 2015) belongs to the controlling role of the pentadecapeptide BPC 157, considering that all of the described healing effects should avoid possible harmful outrage.
Illustratively, BPC 157 may interfere with NO-system activities (Sikiric et al., 2014) and counteract harmful events, arising from either NO-blockade (L-NAME-application) or L-arginine (NOS-substrate-application) (Sikiric et al., 2014). As an indicative example, without its own effect on normal blood pressure, it counteracts L-NAME hypertension as well as L-arginine hypotension (Sikiric et al., 1997a). Also, BPC 157 counteracts chronic heart failure (Lovric Bencic et al., 2004) or venous occlusion (Vukojevic et al., 2018)–induced hypotension (Lovric Bencic et al., 2004; Vukojevic et al., 2018) as well as hyperkalemia-induced hypertension (). Accordingly, BPC 157 provides the counteraction of the opposite effects of L-NAME (prothrombotic) and L-arginine (antithrombotic) application (Stupnisek et al., 2015). Likewise, BPC 157 may interfere with prostaglandin system activities, that is, it strongly counteracts NSAIDs toxicity (Sikiric et al., 2013), much like it counteracts developing and already formed adjuvant arthritis in rats (Sikiric et al., 1997c). Also, it strongly counteracts corticosteroid-induced adverse effects (i.e., eventual healing failure (Klicek et al., 2008; Krivic et al., 2008; Skorjanec et al., 2009; Pevec et al., 2010) and worsening, and immunosuppression (Sikiric et al., 2003).
That controlling point is also recognized in the most recent reviews (Gwyer et al., 2019; Sikiric et al., 2018). As indicated, despite the tumor-promoting effects of many growth factors and peptides (Gwyer et al., 2019; Sikiric et al., 2018), BPC 157 has been shown to inhibit and counteract uncontrolled cell proliferation (Ki-67 overproduction counteracted) and increased expression of VEGF and subsequent signaling pathways (Radeljak et al., 2004; Sever et al., 2019), thus avoiding and directly counteracting VEGF tumorigenesis (Radeljak et al., 2004). Furthermore, as mentioned (Gwyer et al., 2019), BPC 157 inhibits the growth of several tumor lines and can counteract tumor cachexia (Kang et al., 2018), a point combined, as mentioned, with counteracted pro-inflammatory and pro-cachectic cytokines such as IL-6, TNF-α, cancer cachexia–related pathways expression (i.e., FoxO3a, p-AKT, p-mTOR, and P-GSK-3β) (Kang et al., 2018). Also, BPC 157 may counteract cyclophosphamide toxicity (Luetic et al., 2017; Sucic et al., 2019), and in particular, BPC 157 consistently decreased elevated MDA values, while MDA itself, owing to its high cytotoxicity and inhibitory action on protective enzymes, is suggested to act as a tumor promoter and a cocarcinogenic agent (Seven et al., 1999; ).
Moreover, BPC 157 therapy generated from its distinctive healing effects in various tissues also functions as an eye drops therapy that heals perforating corneal ulcers in rats and rapidly regains corneal transparency (Figures 14, 15) (Masnec et al., 2015). Epithelial defects completely healed within three or four days (2 μg or 2 ng regimens, respectively), aqueous cells were not present after four or five days after injury. Regularly, in control rats, developed new vessels grew from the limbus to the penetrated area. Contrarily, generally no new vessels grew in BPC 157–treated rats (i.e., those that did form in the limbus did not make contact with the penetrated area) (Masnec et al., 2015), showing that BPC 157 therapy may acknowledge also “the angiogenic privilege” of the corneal avascularity as essential for corneal wound healing (Tshionyi et al., 2012). This may be the clue that to regain the tissue integrity after wounding, BPC 157 may accommodate the healing depending on the tissue and injury conditions.
FIGURE 14
FIGURE 15