Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy Reveals Molecular Changes in Blood Vessels of Rats Treated with Pentadecapeptide BPC 157.
Gamulin. Ozren O; Oroz. Katarina K; Coric. Luka L; Krajacic. Maria M; Skrabic. Marko M; Dretar. Vilim V; Strbe. Sanja S; Talapko. Jasminka J; Juzbasic. Martina M; Krezic. Ivan I; Lozic. Marin M; Stambolija. Vasilije V; Zizek. Helena H; Jurca. Ivana I; Jurjevic. Ivana I; Blagaic. Alenka Boban AB; Skrtic. Anita A; Seiwerth. Sven S; Sikiric. Predrag P
Key Findings
- A single 10 ng/kg IP dose of BPC‑157 given 5 minutes before sacrifice altered the protein and lipid makeup of rat aorta within 90 minutes.
- FTIR spectroscopy showed reduced signs of early cell death in BPC‑157‑treated vessels compared to saline controls.
- Specific spectral changes (amide I ~1650 cm⁻¹, amide II ~1540 cm⁻¹, and a band at 1744 cm⁻¹) indicated changes in protein secondary structure and lipid content.
Practical Outcomes
- The study hints that BPC‑157 might quickly protect blood vessels, but it’s an early animal experiment using a very low dose and a specialized measurement technique. Biohackers should view this as interesting background evidence, not a ready‑to‑use protocol for humans, and await more translational research before trying it for vascular health.
Summary
A tiny dose of the peptide BPC‑157 given to rats just before they were examined changed the chemistry of their aorta walls, making the tissue look healthier under a special infrared test. The control rats showed early signs of cell damage, while the BPC‑157 rats looked protected. This suggests the peptide can quickly protect blood vessels, at least in rats.
Abstract
Recently, it was found that when confronted with major vessel occlusion and vascular failure, stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 therapy might rapidly functionally improve minor vessels to take over the function of disabled major vessels, reorganize blood flow, and compensate failed vessel function. We focused on the BPC 157 therapy effect obtained by giving 10 ng/kg ip to rats 5 min before sacrifice on the rat thoracic aorta, which we assessed with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) 90 min thereafter. We applied a principal component analysis (PCA). The PCA model showed, with a clear distinction being mostly due to the PC1 score, differences between the spectra of BPC 157- and saline-treated rats. The comparison of the averaged spectra of these two groups with their differential spectrum and PC loadings allowed us to identify the parts of the FTIR spectra that contributed the most to the spectral separation of the two observed groups. The PC1 loadings and the differential spectrum showed that the main bands affecting the separation were the amid I band around 1650 cm<sup>-1</sup>, the amid II band around 1540 cm<sup>-1</sup>, and the vibrational band around 1744 cm<sup>-1</sup>. Fitting the spectral range between 1450 and 1800 cm<sup>-1</sup> showed changes in protein conformation and confirmed the appearance of the vibrational band at 1744 cm<sup>-1</sup>. Controls had a substantially more intense vibrational band at 1744 cm<sup>-1</sup>. These spectral results showed the cells from saline-treated (control) rats to be in the early stage of cell death, while the samples from BPC 157-rats were protected. Thus, BPC 157 therapy changed the lipid contents and protein secondary structure conformation, with a rapid effect on vessels, within a short time upon application.
Study Information
pubmed
2022
2022-12-04T00:00:00.000Z
10.3390/biomedicines10123130
14
57