title: Impact of pentadecapeptide BPC 157 on muscle healing impaired by systemic corticosteroid application.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The effect of systemic and local peptide treatment effective in muscle contusion and then on counteraction of corticosteroid-induced impairment was tested. The pentadecapeptide BPC 157, given without a carrier, improved the healing of transected quadriceps muscle. It also improved muscle healing in rats with muscle crush injury when applied systemically or locally. Importantly, it counteracted corticosteroid-impairment in tendon to bone healing. Thus BPC 157 is proposed as an effective treatment that can improve muscle healing in spite of corticosteroid treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  After the gastrocnemius muscle complex had been injured, rats received BPC 157 (intraperitoneally or locally as a cream) and/or 6alpha-methylprednisolone (intraperitoneally) only once (immediately after injury, sacrifice at 2 h) or once daily (final dose 24 hours before sacrifice and/or assessment procedure at days 1, 2, 4, 7, and 14). Muscle healing was evaluated functionally, macroscopically, and histologically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Without therapy, crushed gastrocnemius muscle complex controls showed limited improvement. 6alpha-methylprednisolone markedly aggravated healing. In contrast, BPC 157 induced faster muscle healing and full function restoration and improved muscle healing despite systemic corticosteroid treatment when given intraperitoneally or locally and demonstrated functionally, macroscopically, and histologically at all investigated intervals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BPC 157 completely reversed systemic corticosteroid-impaired muscle healing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Zagreb Medical School, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Danira
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pevec
authors.forename: Tomislav
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Novinscak
authors.forename: Luka
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brcic
authors.forename: Kristijan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sipos
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Jukic
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Staresinic
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mise
authors.forename: Iva
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Brcic
authors.forename: Danijela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kolenc
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Klicek
authors.forename: Tihomir
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Banic
authors.forename: Marko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sever
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kocijan
authors.forename: Lidija
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Berkopic
authors.forename: Bozo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Radic
authors.forename: Gojko
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Buljat
authors.forename: Tomislav
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Anic
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zoricic
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bojanic
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seiwerth
authors.forename: Predrag
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sikiric
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003893:Desmin / Q000378:metabolism; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008297:Male; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D009132:Muscles / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011506:Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D003893:Desmin; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011506:Proteins; C083833:BPC 157