Repair and Recovery (60 Capsules) (Stable BPC-157 Arginate, Thymosin Beta-4 Fragment)

Synergy for Repair and Recovery: BPC-157 (Arginate Salt) and Thymosin Beta 4 Fragment (Ac-SDKP)

Both Thymosin Beta 4 and BPC-157 have undergone extensive research for their ability to promote wound healing and increased rates of tissue repair. Both peptides have been shown to be involved in angiogenesis, cell migration, and reducing inflammation. Interestingly, despite their known individual benefits, BPC 157 and Thymosin Beta 4 have not been extensively tested in combination. Given their obvious benefits in wound healing, there is potential for substantial synergy between these two peptides that are both derived from naturally occurring human proteins.

Thymosin Beta 4 versus Thymosin Beta 4 Fragment (Ac-SDKP)

Thymosin beta 4 is a natural human protein. It is made up of 43 amino acids and has a molecular weight of 4,291 g/mol. It is capable of binding to actin proteins and is considered to be the principal actin-sequestering protein in most cells. It therefore plays a very important role in the polymerization of actin filaments, which are important for cell structure, cell mobility, and extracellular matrix function. There is speculation, though currently no concrete evidence, to suggest that thymosin beta 4 binds to extracellular receptors in the fluids surrounding cells to mediate some of its effects.

Like many naturally occurring proteins, Thymosin Beta 4 is a very long peptide sequence and is therefore restricted to subcutaneously administration only. It is not orally bioavailable like this fragment. Because TB500 Fragment is substantially smaller than its parent molecule, it's more readily absorbed by the GI tract and then by cells. This enhanced oral bioavailability makes TB500 Fragment (Ac-SDKP) simpler to administer than the 43 amino acid Thymosin Beta 4 and contributes to the fragment’s efficacy.

Thymosin Beta 4 and AC-SDKP

The TB500 Fragment (Ac-SDKP) is a small, 4 amino acid (Ac-Ser-Asp-Lys-Pro) peptide that maintains many of the larger peptide’s properties. Ac-SDKP has been found to occur naturally and is broken down by ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) activity. This may be the reason that ACE inhibitors help to prevent scarring and cardiac remodeling because Ac-SDKP is an anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory peptide known to promote blood vessel growth, reduce inflammation, and reduce scarring following injury.

Body Protection Compound: Arginate and Acetate Salts

BPC 157 is a derivative of the natural protein called BPC (body protection compound). BPC was originally isolated from human gastric contents but was found to be unstable, difficult to administer, and difficult to produce. The smaller BPC 157 is easier to produce than standard BPC, but it is not particularly stable and is not as orally bioavailable. To solve this problem, scientists attached an acetate group to BPC 157. This solved the problem of stability during storage, but rendered BPC 157 vulnerable to human gastric contents. Thus, the acetate salt of BPC 157 does not have a high oral bioavailability and must be administered parenterally, for example, Sub-Q. This can be problematic in developing protocols for rodent studies and would ultimately make BPC 157 less desirable as a prescription drug should it make it through phase 3 trials.

To overcome this problem, researchers developed an arginate salt of BPC 157. The BPC-157 arginate salt is very stable in human gastric juice and boosts the oral bioavailability from less than 3% to greater than 90%. BPC 157 arginate salt is also more stable in low temperature environments and can resist the effects of UV light[1], [2].

Why are BPC 157 and Thymosin Beta 4 Fragment (Ac-SDKP) Synergistic in Repair and Recovery?

Though both BPC 157 and TB4 Fragment are active in accelerating repair and recovery, the two peptides do not have the same mechanism of action. BPC 157 is probably the less understood of the two peptides. Research has revealed that it is active in gut and neurological tissue as well as tendon and muscle injuries. It has angiogenic properties and is a potent anti-inflammatory. Researchers aren’t certain how BPC 157 works exactly, but they do know that it enhances fibroblast function and thus the generation and maintenance of the extracellular matrix.

TB-500 is a 7 amino acid derivative of Thymosin Beta 4 and Ac-SDKP is a shorter, 4 amino acid derivative of Thymosin Beta 4. TB500 and Ac-SDKP have similar functions. They both play a critical role in cell migration and angiogenesis among other things. Ac-SDKP could supercharge the migration of endothelial cells, while TB-500 can help activate those cells so they can perform wound healing at the sites they’ve migrated to. Although, Ac-SDKP does not activate the migration of pluripotent stem cells like TB500 and the complete Thymosin Beta 4 do. The Thymosin Beta 4 fragment (Ac-SDKP) prevents stem cells from differentiating into cells beyond endothelial cells and blood vessels, which may be worth studying in certain cancers not caused by cancerous endothelial cells.

Synergy in Neurological Recovery

TB500 has been shown in rat models to encourage the growth and proliferation of both central and peripheral nervous system tissues following injury. It is thought that TB500 activates the cells that support neurons, allowing them to provide more nutrients to the damaged cells as they recover[3]. Research in rats has shown that TB500 administration leads to substantial improvements in behavior, motor control, and cognitive impairment[4].

Research also indicates that TB500 can help to reduce oxidative stress and improve the recovery of neural stem cells (neural progenitor cells/NSPCs). BPC 157 may play a similar role in the brain as research has shown that it protects somatosensory neurons from injury both directly and by reducing inflammation in the nervous system[5]. BPC 157 also appears to play a protective role in the central nervous system, helping it to prepare for insults before they happen. It isn’t clear how it achieves this function, but it is known to play an important role in signaling from the GI system. Researchers speculate that it may act as an early warning molecule to the brain, letting it know that a noxious insult is on the way so that it can prepare. Research in this particular area is quite new, but there is good reason to believe that BPC 157 helps the brain to maintain homeostasis even in the setting of traumatic injury and noxious insult.

Ac-SDKP has been tested in mouse models of multiple sclerosis and found to help decrease levels of inflammatory molecules in the brain. This results in reversal of demyelination, the hallmark of multiple sclerosis and a marker of disease severity[6]. This benefit is probably mediated by enhanced neural supportive cell migration; the same mechanism discussed in the paragraph above.

Together, BPC 157 and TB 500 could substantially impact the health of the nervous system by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress, protecting cells that support neurons, and improving migration of cells that partake in tissue repair. Combined research on these two peptides has never been carried out, but could offer insight into how to both prevent and treat the consequences of neurological injury. This combination could be a good research target in the settings of traumatic brain injury, stroke, and even neurodegenerative diseases like ALS and Alzheimer’s disease.

The Thymosin Beta 4 and BPC 157 Synergy

The benefits of TB-4 and BPC 157 generally arise from the fact that these two peptides affect the same cells in slightly different ways. The derivatives of Thymosin beta 4, Ac-SDKP and TB-500, boost cell migration and cell motility. This may sound trivial, but the ability of cells like fibroblasts to get to sites of injury is a rate limiting step in tissue repair. Many of these cells die before they reach their destination or simply don’t last long once they get there, so boosting their ability to move around is of massive benefit.

Combining the ability of cells to get to the site of injury with an ability to function better and for longer once they are there is a triple synergy. This is where BPC 157 builds on the benefits of thymosin beta 4. BPC 157 improves fibroblast cell function by increasing growth hormone receptor density, thus improving both the longevity of these cells and their ability to grow/divide during the healing process. The result is that more cells get to the site of tissue injury and they are healthy when they get there. Healthy cells not only do more work, they produce more offspring that can then also do more work. This is why combining thymosin beta 4 with BPC 157 is likely not just an additive process, but a multiplicative process. The benefits build on one another to dramatically increase tissue recovery following injury. This is why these two peptides are of interest in cardiac research, brain and central nervous system research, musculoskeletal injury and repair, and gastrointestinal healing. There is research potential for these peptides, used in appropriate combination and for the right periods of time, to help boost healing in neurodegenerative disease, inflammatory diseases, infection, and injury. What needs to be done now is rodent studies with the peptides combined. It is time for someone to develop the protocols and knowledge base necessary to put these peptides to use safely and effectively in studies. That will come from additional research and right now the door for developing new protocols and experiments is wide open.

BPC-157 (Arginate Salt) and Thymosin Beta 4 Fragment (TB500) exhibits minimal side effects, good oral and excellent subcutaneous bioavailability in mice. Per kg dosage in mice does not scale to humans. BPC-157 (Arginate Salt) and Thymosin Beta 4 Fragment (TB500) for sale at Peptide Sciences is limited to educational and scientific research only, not for human consumption. Only buy BPC-157 (Arginate Salt) and Thymosin Beta 4 Fragment (TB500) if you are a licensed researcher.

Storage Instructions:

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.