Livagen is a short bioregulatory peptide that has direct effects on DNA structure and function. It is best known for its ability to decondense chromatin, thereby increasing the expression of certain genes and improving the “youthful” profile of cells. Its most studied effects are on lymphocytes of the immune system. Through these cells, Livagen has been shown to activate the immune system and offset disease in the heart, GI tract, immune system, and central nervous system. Livagen research has also shown promise in the area of nociception and pain control. Ongoing research will help to further unravel the promise of Livagen and bring humanity closer to understanding the processes of aging and senescence.
Livagen, a short peptide closely related to Epitalon (aka Epithalon), is known for its effects on the immune system, GI tract, and liver. As a peptide bioregulator, Livagen has direct effects on DNA and gene expression patterns. Its purported anti-aging properties are thought to result from Livagen’s ability to activate genes in the GI tract and immune system that are otherwise silenced as a result of DNA condensation with age.
DNA is contained within the nucleus of eukaryotes, like humans, in a hierarchy of ever more condensed organization that takes the roughly 3 feet of DNA that is contained within a human cell and packages it to fit within the space of one hundredth of a millimeter. In other words, the packaging of DNA reduces its overall size by about 100,000 times.
The double helix of DNA is wrapped around proteins, called histones, which themselves conglomerate to form chromatin structure, which further condenses to form chromosomes. This progressive organization of DNA serves several purposes including condensing the genetic material for replication and cell division, condensing the genetic material so that it fits within cells, and controlling expression of genes at a very high level. In other words, DNA organization is all about packaging the genetic material and about controlling access to specific genes[1].
Research in older adults suggests that Livagen activates a number of genes in the lymphocytes of older people by inducing the decondensation (unpacking) of chromatin. This results in the activation of genes that are otherwise silent in older adults including ribosomal genes responsible, indirectly, for robust protein production and enhanced cell activity[2]. This information suggests that Livagen has a direct effect on the DNA within lymphocytes, which are a primary cell of the immune system.
Lymphocytes play an active role in cardiac health, so it was natural for researchers to wonder what effects Livagen might have on the heart. Research in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) suggests that dysregulation of chromatin structure in lymphocytes is a pathogenic feature in HCM and atherosclerosis that, if correct, may improve long-term outcomes[5].
Several studies suggest that release of genes via decondensation of chromatin in lymphocytes may help to reduce long-term sequelae from various forms of heart disease[6]. Of course, this is precisely what Livagen does and so there has been a great deal of research in this area[7], [8]. Changes to lymphocyte gene expression may help to reduce inflammation and the scarring that it leads to in individuals with HCM. Livagen may also be useful for preventing the onset of HCM in those who are genetically predisposed to the condition as well as following heart attack or other cardiac injury. Livagen may provide the basis for advanced preventative strategies that will reduce the overall morbidity and mortality associated with heart disease.
Enkephalins are short peptides that the body uses to signal pain. They bind to both mu and delta opioid receptors. Mu receptors, which bind morphine, cause a reduction in pain, blood pressure, and consciousness when activated. Delta receptor activation leads to reduced pain perception and may account for the respiratory depression seen with opiates.
Work on bioregulatory peptides shows that Livagen inhibits the activity of enkephalin-degrading enzymes in the blood, thereby increasing levels of natural pain killers in the body[9]. Naturally, this suggests that Livagen may be an effective treatment for pain. There is ongoing research to determine how well it controls pain, what the side effects of enhanced enkephalin levels are, and whether there is any addictive potential as there is with opioids like Oxycontin.
New research suggests that both my and delta receptors, when activated, play an important role in protecting the mucosal barrier of the GI tract. The net result of Livagen in this setting is an increase vagal nerve signaling to the GI tract and altered levels of both mucosal nitric oxide and prostaglandins[10]. This leads to profound gastroprotection that may be useful in everything from treating infectious diarrhea to reducing the symptoms and long-term consequences of inflammatory bowel disease. Given its ability to enhanced activation of these receptors by enhancing levels of enkephalin in the bloodstream, it should come as no surprise that Livagen is being considered as a potential treatment for a variety of disorders of the GI tract.
What should be obvious by now is that many of the effects of aging are a result of changes in the way DNA is organized and thus the types of genes that can be accessed and expressed. These changes have been detailed in research by the leading authority on chromatin changes in aging, Professor Teimuraz Lezhava. His work shows that levels chromosomal aberrations increase with age. These aberrations include progressive condensation of chromatin (think of this as increasing inactivation of DNA) and decreases in repair processes (secondary to the inactivation that arises from condensation)[11]. There is good evidence to suggest that reversing the process of condensation may, in fact, be an effective means of extending lifespan. After all, if silencing genes leads to progressively faster aging, reactivating those genes should slow the process. Dr. Lezhavas’s research shows that Livagen, Epitalon, and a handful of other bioregulatory peptides are already know to impact this process by decondensing DNA[12]. His work shows that there is good reason to believe that these peptides can, in fact, help to thwart some of the dysfunction that arises with age, particularly as it relates to immune dysregulation and decreased protein synthesis.
Livagen is a short bioregulatory peptide that has direct effects on DNA structure and function. It is best known for its ability to decondense chromatin, thereby increasing the expression of certain genes and improving the “youthful” profile of cells. Its most studied effects are on lymphocytes of the immune system. Through these cells, Livagen helps to activate the immune system and offset disease in the heart, GI tract, immune system, and central nervous system. Livagen even shows promise in the area of nociception and pain control. Ongoing research will help to further unravel the promise of Livagen and bring humanity closer to understanding the processes of aging and senescence.
Livagen exhibits minimal side effects, low oral and excellent subcutaneous bioavailability in mice. Per kg dosage in mice does not scale to humans. Livagen for sale at Peptide Sciences is limited to educational and scientific research only, not for human consumption. Only buy Livagen if you are a licensed researcher.
All of our products are manufactured using the Lyophilization (Freeze Drying) process, which ensures that our products remain 100% stable for shipping 3-4 months reconstituted (mixed with bacteriostatic water) to maintain stability. After reconstitution, the peptides will remain stable for up to 30 days.
Lyophilization is a unique dehydration process, also known as cryodesiccation, where the peptides are frozen and then subjected to low pressure. This causes the water in the peptide vial to sublimate directly from solid to gas, leaving behind a stable, crystalline white structure known as lyophilized peptide. The puffy white powder can be stored at room temperature until you're ready to reconstitute it with bacteriostatic water.
Once peptides have been received, it is imperative that they are kept cold and away from light. If the peptides will be used immediately, or in the next several days, weeks or months, short-term refrigeration under 4C (39F) is generally acceptable. Lyophilized peptides are usually stable at room temperatures for several weeks or more, so if they will be utilized within weeks or months such storage is typically adequate.
However, for longer term storage (several months to years) it is more preferable to store peptides in a freezer at -80C (-112F). When storing peptides for months or even years, freezing is optimal in order to preserve the peptide’s stability.
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