Skip to content

Study · Ex vivo tissue · 2026

6 results

Endothelium-Dependent Nitric Oxide-Mediated Vasorelaxant Effects of BPC 157 in Human Internal Mammary Artery.

Yildirim AK, Dastan AO, Demeli Ertus M, Ensarioglu M, Karabacak K, Pehlivanoglu B

Journal of clinical medicine2 May 2026Cited by 2 (Europe PMC)

PMID42123221 (opens in a new tab)PMCIDPMC13163310 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.3390/jcm15093488 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-42123221
Download PDFPubMedAsk about this study
Jump to 6 results

Summary

Background/Objectives: Body Protection Compound-157 (BPC 157) is a stable gastric pentadecapeptide with cytoprotective, pro-angiogenic, and nitric oxide (NO)-modulating properties that has gained increasing attention for its therapeutic potential. Although vasodilatory effects have been demonstrated in animal models, functional evidence in human arterial tissue remains limited. This study investigated the effects of BPC 157 on vascular tone in human internal mammary artery (IMA) rings and evaluated the contribution of endothelial NO signaling. Methods: Residual IMA segments obtained from elective coronary artery bypass graft surgeries (n = 12) were dissected into endothelium-intact and endothelium-denuded rings. Following equilibration, the rings were challenged by phenylephrine (PheE; 3 × 10-6 M) to induce contraction. Cumulative concentration-response curves of BPC 157 (0.01-1 mg/mL) for five consecutive doses were constructed. The involvement of NO was assessed by BPC 157 dose-response curves in the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 10-6 M) pre-incubated rings. Maximum force of contraction, area under the curve, maximum response (Emax), and negative logarithm of the half-maximal effective concentration (pEC50) values were analyzed. Results: BPC 157 produced a concentration-dependent reduction in PheE-induced contraction in both groups, with significantly greater relaxation in endothelium-intact rings (p < 0.05). L-NAME increased contractile responsiveness in intact rings and attenuated BPC 157-induced relaxation. Under NOS inhibition, differences between groups progressively diminished and concentration-response curves converged at higher concentrations. Emax analysis demonstrated that endothelial integrity markedly enhanced maximal vasorelaxation, whereas this advantage was largely abolished after NOS inhibition. Conclusions: BPC 157 induces concentration-dependent vasorelaxation in human arterial tissue, predominantly mediated via an endothelium-dependent NO pathway. Endothelial integrity primarily enhances maximal efficacy, while residual effects indicate additional mechanisms. These findings provide early mechanistic evidence for the vascular activity of BPC 157, although further molecular and in vivo studies are required to clarify its clinical relevance.
CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study6

6 results from studies that gave the peptide. No result from this study comes from people.

  1. 01LabEx vivo tissueActivity measurement

    In human internal mammary artery rings, BPC‑157 reduced phenylephrine-induced contraction in a concentration-dependent way, in both endothelium-intact and denuded rings.

    In plain wordsIn lab tests on human artery rings, BPC‑157 relaxed the vessel in a dose-dependent way.

    Peptide
    BPC-157
    Outcome
    DecreasePhenylephrine-induced contraction
    Study

    humann = 12

    Human internal mammary artery rings (phenylephrine-contracted)
    Comparator
    Before BPC 157 (cumulative concentrations)
    Outcome group
    Vascular function · Cardiovascular
    Studied dose
    0.01-1 mg/mLAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    BPC 157 produced a concentration-dependent reduction in PheE-induced contraction in both groups
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Residual IMA segments obtained from elective coronary artery bypass graft surgeries (n = 12) were dissected into endothelium-intact and endothelium-denuded rings.
    Summary · context
    Cumulative concentration-response curves of BPC 157 (0.01-1 mg/mL) for five consecutive doses were constructed.
  2. 02LabEx vivo tissueMechanism

    In human internal mammary artery rings, BPC‑157 produced significantly greater relaxation in endothelium-intact than in endothelium-denuded rings.

    In plain wordsIn lab tests on human artery rings, BPC‑157 relaxed vessels with an intact inner lining more than vessels without it.

    Peptide
    BPC-157
    Outcome
    IncreaseRelaxation, endothelium-intact versus denuded rings
    Study

    humann = 12

    Human internal mammary artery rings (phenylephrine-contracted)
    Comparator
    Endothelium-denuded rings
    Outcome group
    Vascular function · Cardiovascular
    Studied dose
    0.01-1 mg/mLAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    with significantly greater relaxation in endothelium-intact rings (p < 0.05).
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Residual IMA segments obtained from elective coronary artery bypass graft surgeries (n = 12) were dissected into endothelium-intact and endothelium-denuded rings.
    Summary · context
    Cumulative concentration-response curves of BPC 157 (0.01-1 mg/mL) for five consecutive doses were constructed.
  3. 03LabEx vivo tissueMechanism

    In human internal mammary artery rings, L-NAME attenuated BPC‑157-induced relaxation.

    In plain wordsIn lab tests on human artery rings, blocking nitric oxide production weakened the relaxing effect of BPC‑157.

    Peptide
    BPC-157
    Outcome
    DecreaseBPC 157-induced relaxation with NOS inhibition (L-NAME)
    Study

    humann = 12

    Human internal mammary artery rings (phenylephrine-contracted)
    Comparator
    No L-NAME
    Outcome group
    Vascular function · Cardiovascular
    Studied dose
    0.01-1 mg/mLAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    attenuated BPC 157-induced relaxation.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Residual IMA segments obtained from elective coronary artery bypass graft surgeries (n = 12) were dissected into endothelium-intact and endothelium-denuded rings.
    Summary · context
    Cumulative concentration-response curves of BPC 157 (0.01-1 mg/mL) for five consecutive doses were constructed.
  4. 04LabEx vivo tissueMechanism

    In human internal mammary artery rings, endothelial integrity markedly enhanced the maximal vasorelaxation (Emax) produced by BPC‑157.

    In plain wordsIn lab tests on human artery rings, an intact vessel lining greatly raised the maximum relaxing effect of BPC‑157.

    Peptide
    BPC-157
    Outcome
    IncreaseMaximal vasorelaxation (Emax), endothelial integrity
    Study

    humann = 12

    Human internal mammary artery rings (phenylephrine-contracted)
    Comparator
    Endothelium-denuded rings
    Outcome group
    Vascular function · Cardiovascular
    Studied dose
    0.01-1 mg/mLAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Emax analysis demonstrated that endothelial integrity markedly enhanced maximal vasorelaxation
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Residual IMA segments obtained from elective coronary artery bypass graft surgeries (n = 12) were dissected into endothelium-intact and endothelium-denuded rings.
    Summary · context
    Cumulative concentration-response curves of BPC 157 (0.01-1 mg/mL) for five consecutive doses were constructed.
  5. 05LabEx vivo tissueMechanism

    In human internal mammary artery rings, the Emax advantage of endothelium-intact rings was largely abolished after NOS inhibition.

    In plain wordsIn lab tests on human artery rings, blocking nitric oxide production largely removed the extra effect of an intact vessel lining.

    Peptide
    BPC-157
    Outcome
    DecreaseEndothelium advantage in Emax after NOS inhibition
    Study

    humann = 12

    Human internal mammary artery rings (phenylephrine-contracted)
    Comparator
    No L-NAME
    Outcome group
    Vascular function · Cardiovascular
    Studied dose
    0.01-1 mg/mLAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    whereas this advantage was largely abolished after NOS inhibition.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Residual IMA segments obtained from elective coronary artery bypass graft surgeries (n = 12) were dissected into endothelium-intact and endothelium-denuded rings.
    Summary · context
    Cumulative concentration-response curves of BPC 157 (0.01-1 mg/mL) for five consecutive doses were constructed.
  6. 06LabEx vivo tissueMechanism

    In human internal mammary artery rings under NOS inhibition, differences between intact and denuded rings progressively diminished and concentration-response curves converged at higher concentrations.

    In plain wordsIn lab tests on human artery rings, blocking nitric oxide production made intact and stripped vessels respond more alike.

    Peptide
    BPC-157
    Outcome
    DecreaseBetween-group differences under NOS inhibition
    Study

    humann = 12

    Human internal mammary artery rings (phenylephrine-contracted)
    Comparator
    No L-NAME
    Outcome group
    Vascular function · Cardiovascular
    Studied dose
    0.01-1 mg/mLAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Under NOS inhibition, differences between groups progressively diminished and concentration-response curves converged at higher concentrations.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Residual IMA segments obtained from elective coronary artery bypass graft surgeries (n = 12) were dissected into endothelium-intact and endothelium-denuded rings.
    Summary · context
    Cumulative concentration-response curves of BPC 157 (0.01-1 mg/mL) for five consecutive doses were constructed.

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

  1. Version 3Current

    10 Oct 2026, 08:19 UTC

    Study results updated

  2. Version 2

    9 Oct 2026, 03:03 UTC

    Study data updated · source update from Europe PMC

  3. Version 1

    9 Oct 2026, 02:56 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

PepBank is a research reference. Talk to a doctor before you use any peptide.