Research Overview
BPC-157, sometimes written as Body Protection Compound 157, is a synthetic pentadecapeptide derived from a partial sequence of a protein originally isolated from human gastric juice. The 15-amino-acid sequence GEPPPGKPADDAGLV has a molecular weight of 1419.55 g/mol and CAS number 137525-51-0. Unlike many short peptides studied in research, BPC-157 has been reported as relatively stable in aqueous and gastric environments, which is one reason it has attracted attention across a wide range of preclinical models.
Research interest is concentrated around its observed activity in soft-tissue repair models, tendon and ligament studies, gastrointestinal mucosal research and vascular angiogenic assays. It is frequently investigated in animal models because researchers can administer it via several routes and still detect downstream effects on growth factor signalling. The compound is not a hormone and does not appear to bind classical hormone receptors, which has made its mechanism the subject of ongoing investigation.
Each vial supplied by Origin Research contains 5mg of lyophilised BPC-157 at 99.3% purity by HPLC, sealed under inert atmosphere and shipped with a batch-specific Certificate of Analysis on request. The vial is intended strictly for in-vitro and preclinical laboratory research.
Mechanism Studied in Research
The mechanism of BPC-157 has been investigated across more than 100 published preclinical studies, with several recurring pathways reported in the literature. Research suggests interaction with nitric oxide signalling, angiogenesis-related growth factor expression and cytoprotective pathways.
Studies in tendon and ligament models have reported upregulation of growth hormone receptor expression and connective-tissue remodelling pathways. Additional work has suggested interaction with VEGFR2 signalling and downstream endothelial migration processes. In gastrointestinal models, the peptide has been investigated in relation to mucosal repair and barrier-function integrity.
BPC-157 does not appear to act through a single defined receptor model, and published literature describes a network-level interaction with growth factor pathways, nitric oxide signalling and tissue-remodelling mechanisms.
Research Applications
Soft-tissue repair research. BPC-157 is one of the most cited peptides in tendon, ligament and muscle injury models. It has been reported faster organisation of collagen fibres and improved fascial regeneration in experimental settings.
Gastrointestinal mucosal models. Because the parent sequence was identified in gastric juice, BPC-157 has been extensively investigated in rodent models of induced gastric and intestinal ulceration, healing and mucosal integrity.
Vascular and angiogenesis research. BPC-157 has been studied in models of endothelial migration and wound-bed angiogenesis. Researchers have linked it to VEGFR2–NOS signalling and rapid bypass-loop formation.
Neurological and CNS injury models. A smaller but growing body of work has investigated BPC-157 in traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury and neuroprotection-induced damage models.
Reconstitution Reference
BPC-157 is supplied as a 5mg lyophilised powder under inert atmosphere. For laboratory reconstitution, researchers typically use bacteriostatic water containing 0.9% benzyl alcohol. A common reconstitution is the addition of 2ml of diluent, producing a concentration of 2.5mg/ml.
The diluent is injected slowly down the inside wall of the vial rather than directly onto the powder, then swirled gently. Vigorous shaking is avoided, as mechanical agitation can degrade peptide structure.
Storage and Handling
Lyophilised BPC-157 is stable for extended periods when stored sealed at -20°C and protected from light and moisture. For long-term storage beyond 24 months, vials should remain frozen under controlled conditions.
Once reconstituted with bacteriostatic water, the solution should be stored at 2-8°C and used within approximately 28 days in line with laboratory practice. Repeated freeze-thaw cycles should be avoided.
References
[2] Chang CH et al. (2011). The promising effect of pentadecapeptide BPC-157 on tendon healing and tendon outgrowth. Cell Transplant. PMID 21048772
[3] Hsieh MJ et al. (2017). Therapeutic potential of pro-angiogenic BPC157 associated with VEGFR2 activation and angiogenesis. Int J Mol Med. PMID 28776316
[4] Klicek R et al. (2008). Achilles tendon healing in a rat model by stable pentadecapeptide BPC157. J Orthop Res. PMID 18067080
[5] Sikiric P et al. (2014). BPC157 and standard angiogenic growth factors. Curr Pharm Des.