Impact of pentadecapeptide BPC 157 on muscle healing impaired by systemic corticosteroid application.
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.
Pevec
Danira
D
Department of Pharmacology, University of Zagreb Medical School, Zagreb, Croatia.
Novinscak
Tomislav
T
Brcic
Luka
L
Sipos
Kristijan
K
Jukic
Ivana
I
Staresinic
Mario
M
Mise
Sandro
S
Brcic
Iva
I
Kolenc
Danijela
D
Klicek
Robert
R
Banic
Tihomir
T
Sever
Marko
M
Kocijan
Ana
A
Berkopic
Lidija
L
Radic
Bozo
B
Buljat
Gojko
G
Anic
Tomislav
T
Zoricic
Ivan
I
Bojanic
Ivan
I
Seiwerth
Sven
S
Sikiric
Predrag
P
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*
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D003893:Desmin; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011506:Proteins; C083833:BPC 157