Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 Enhances the Growth Hormone Receptor Expression in Tendon Fibroblasts
/PMC/2026
Why It Matters
This paper caught my attention because BPC-157 is widely discussed in optimization circles for tendon healing, but the evidence is thin. This study shows one potential mechanism—upregulating GH receptors in tendon cells—but it's pure cell culture work. No animals, no humans, no actual healing measured. If you're considering BPC-157 for an injury, understand you're extrapolating from Petri dishes to your body.
Key Findings
- BPC-157 treatment increased growth hormone receptor mRNA expression by roughly 2-fold in cultured tendon fibroblasts
- The effect was dose-dependent, with 1 μg/mL showing stronger upregulation than 0.1 μg/mL
- Growth hormone receptor expression increased starting at 6 hours and remained elevated at 24 hours post-treatment
- The study used rat tendon fibroblasts in cell culture—no tissue, animal, or human data
- No functional outcomes were measured; researchers only looked at receptor expression, not actual healing or tissue repair
Read the Paper↗PMC6271067