Remember when you were a kid and a scraped knee healed up in no time with just a bandage and some mom magic?
Well, things change as we get older.
Wounds can take ages to heal—sometimes months.
That’s because our body’s repair abilities aren’t what they used to be.
As we age, there are fewer growth factors and stem cells in our skin, which slows down healing.
Moreover, if you have chronic diseases, especially those affecting your blood vessels, it can further prolong the healing process.
Fortunately, when it comes to wound healing and recovery, there are two peptides whose names are always on top: TB-500 and BPC-157.
Both of these peptides have healing properties, making them the best choice for treating injuries to bones, joints, connective tissues, and muscles.
The question now is this: which of the two should you use?
In this article, we’ll take a look at the differences and similarities between TB-500 vs BPC-157 to help you pick.
What are TB-500 and BPC-157?
TB-500 and BPC-157 are synthetic peptides with potential healing and regenerative properties.
TB-500 is known for its role in tissue repair, wound healing, and anti-inflammatory effects.
It has been shown to promote cell migration, angiogenesis, and blood vessel formation, all of which are crucial for the healing process.
BPC-157, short for Body Protection Compound 157, is a peptide with 15 amino acids derived from a protein found in the stomach.
It has regenerative effects, particularly in the gastrointestinal tract, and is also being investigated for its potential in healing injuries and reducing inflammation.
Similarities Between TB-500 and BPC-157
TB-500 and BPC-157 are both known for their healing properties.
They help people recover faster from injuries, encourage collagen production, and aid in the healing of muscles, tendons, joints, and bones.
Both work through angiogenesis, which is the formation of new blood vessels, to promote healing in damaged tissues.
While they both have their own unique features and applications, their shared ability to support recovery and tissue regeneration links them closely.
About TB-500 Peptide
TB-500 peptide is a synthetic version of Thymosin Beta-4 (TB4).
TB4 consists of 43 amino acids that have been isolated from bovine thymus tissue. This peptide plays a role in the development and training of the white blood cell T-lymphocytes, or T cells.
TB-500 was initially developed for veterinary purposes, specifically for use in horses, but it was subsequently banned for horse racing use.
It was also then banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) for sports use.
If you’re looking to use peptide TB-500, it is best used as an injectable, as it has poor oral bioavailability. However, a fragment of thymosin beta 4 is orally active.
How TB-500 Therapy Works
TB-500 can boost the production of immune system cells while minimizing inflammatory substances.
It binds to actin, promoting the mobilization and migration of progenitors of stem cells.
Aside from promoting angiogenesis, or the formation of the new blood vessels, TB-500 also stimulates tissue regeneration.
It helps decrease the formation of scars by lowering myofibroblasts, or the number of cells responsible for tissue repair and wound healing, in wounds.
TB-500 also helps boost cellular motility to help progenitor cells initiate tissue recovery in areas with injuries.
Moreover, it reduces inflammation by boosting microRNA-146a expression, thus minimizing the pro-inflammatory cytokines TRAF6 and IRAK1.
Top Benefits and Use of TB 500
Speeds Up Wound Healing and Blood Vessel Formation
TB-500 can help with wound healing. In a study in the Journal of Mechanisms of Ageing and Development in rodents, this peptide boosted cell migration and angiogenesis in damaged tissue, accelerating wound healing.
New blood vessel formation is important in many physiological processes, including development, wound repair, and tumor growth.
In aged animals, angiogenesis is reduced, resulting in poor wound healing.
We have identified a novel small molecule, thymosin beta(4), that promotes angiogenesis and wound repair in both normal and aged rodents.
It also promotes hair growth in normal and aged rodents.
It acts by increasing angiogenesis and cell migration and is currently in clinical trials for wound repair.
In another study published in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, patients who had corneal wounds who took thymosin beta 4 eyedrops four times a day healed their wounds quickly.
Neurotrophic corneal defects are difficult to heal and all too often lead to scarring and vision loss. Medical management is often of limited success.
We describe the results of nine patients (ages 37-84) with chronic nonhealing neurotrophic corneal epithelial defects who were treated with thymosin beta 4 (Tβ4) sterile eye drops for 28 or 49 days with a follow-up period of 30 days.
Those with geographic defects (six patients) showed dramatic healing without clinically significant neovascularization.
Stromal thinning was observed in one patient.
Three patients with punctate epithelial defects did not have a demonstrable change in their clinical findings.
Supports Nerve Regeneration
Thymosin beta 4 can also be found in the nervous system, suggesting that it has nerve regeneration and protection properties.
In fact, mice with inflammation in the brain showed improvement in functional recovery.
This happened after they were given thymosin beta 4, which helps in stimulating oligodendrogenesis and reducing inflammatory infiltrates according to the Journal of Neuroscience.
Oligodendrogenesis refers to the formation of the protective cover of neurons.
In the present study, we hypothesized that thymosin beta 4 (Tbeta4) is a potential therapy for multiple sclerosis (MS).
To test this hypothesis, SJL/J mice (n=21) were subjected to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of MS. EAE mice were treated with saline or Tbeta4 (6 mg/kg, n=10) every 3 days, starting on the day of myelin proteolipid protein immunization, for a total of 5 doses.
Neurological function, inflammatory infiltration, oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs), and mature oligodendrocytes were measured in the brains of EAE mice.
Double immunohistochemical staining was used to detect proliferation and differentiation of OPCs.
Tbeta4 was used to treat N20.1 cells (premature oligodendrocyte cell line) in vitro, and the proliferation of N20.1 cells was measured by bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) immunostaining.
Tbeta4 treatment improved functional recovery after EAE.
Inflammatory infiltrates were significantly reduced in the Tbeta4 treatment group compared to the saline groups (3.6±0.3/slide vs 5±0.5/slide, p<0.05). NG2+ OPCs (447.7±41.9/mm2 vs 195.2±31/mm2 in subventricular zone, 75.1±4.7/mm2 vs 41.7±3.2/mm2 in white matter), CNPase+ mature oligodendrocytes (267.5±10.3/mm2 vs 141.4±22.9/ mm2), BrdU+ with NG2+ OPCs (32.9±3.7/mm2 vs 17.9±3.6/mm2), BrdU+ with CNPase+ mature oligodendrocytes (18.2±1.7/mm2 vs 10.7±2.2/mm2) were significantly increased in the Tbeta4 treated mice compared to those of saline controls (p<0.05).
This data indicates that Tbeta4 treatment improved functional recovery after EAE, possibly by reducing inflammatory infiltrates and stimulating oligodendrogenesis.
Improves Liver Health
Similarly, TB-500 has regenerative properties that have a therapeutic effect on various liver disorders.
A study published in the Journal of Chronic Diseases and Translational Medicine shows that the peptide has anti-scarring and anti-inflammatory properties that can help prevent liver damage and scarring.
Badamchian reported that a median lethal dose of LPS in rats led to a significant reduction of blood Tβ4, and administration of Tβ4 immediately following the dose of LPS in mice significantly reduced mortality rates (P = 0.024) and lowered the levels of inflammatory cytokines in the blood.
Significant decreases in blood Tβ4 levels were also reported in septic shock patients and in human subjects given low doses of endotoxin.
Therefore, the authors suggest that Tβ4 has clinical utility in the treatment of septic shock and syndromes associated with endotoxemia.
It is also reported that Tβ4 improved the 72-h survival rate of mice in septic shock and reduced levels of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-1β).
β4-mediated upregulation of microRNA-146a promotes oligodendrocyte differentiation and suppression of the toll-like receptor (TLR) proinflammatory pathways, including the TLR-4 pathway.
These studies suggest that Tβ4 is negatively correlated with endotoxemia and could suppress proinflammatory TLR signaling and reduce inflammatory cytokines.
According to the gut-liver axis theory, the effects of Tβ4 could play an important role in the treatment of NAFLD.
Boosts Brain Health
TB-500 can also support brain health thanks to its tissue regeneration and protection properties.
In fact, a study with mice showed that the peptide can help in the regeneration and formation of new blood vessels.
Neurorestorative therapy is the next frontier in the treatment of strokes. An expanding body of evidence supports the theory that after a stroke, certain cellular changes occur that resemble early stages of development.
Increased expression of developmental proteins in the area bordering the infarct suggests an active repair or reconditioning response to ischemic injury.
Thymosin beta4 (Tbeta4) is expressed in both the developing and adult brain, and it has been shown to stimulate vasculogenesis, angiogenesis, and arteriogenesis in the postnatal and adult murine cardiac myocardium.
In another study in patients with neurological diseases such as stroke, taking thymosin beta 4 has been shown to remodel and rebuild the nervous system.
This is through the stimulating self-healing processes in the nerves, spinal cord, and brain.
In fact, according to Michael Chopp, Ph,D., internationally renowned stroke researcher and scientific director of the Neuroscience Institute at Henry Ford Hospital:
Thymosin beta-4 is highly effective for the treatment of neurological diseases, in part by increasing the formation of protective myelin around nerve fibers in the central and peripheral nervous systems.
Rather than focusing on destroying clots or other lesions, leading to nerve damage, restorative therapies are designed to ‘remodel’ or rebuild the nervous system by stimulating self-healing processes that already exist in the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves connected to them.
It is therefore time to reconsider how we think about treating neural injury and disease.
Dosage
When using TB-500 for injury treatment, there’s no one-size-fits-all dosing guideline.
However, here’s what I recommend:
Inject 2.0-2.5 mg of TB-500 twice a week, evenly spaced (e.g., Monday and Thursday) for 4-6 weeks.
Take a 2-week break before starting another 4-6 week cycle.
You can administer the injections intramuscularly or subcutaneously.
They don’t have to be precisely at the injury site, as TB-500 has systemic distribution.
Side Effects of TB500
TB-500 is generally considered safe, with no recorded severe side effects apart from possible symptoms like headache, dizziness, lethargy, and nausea.
If these symptoms persist, it’s best to discontinue use immediately.
About BPC-157 Peptide
The BPC-157 peptide, also known as Body Protecting Compound 157, contains a chain of 15 amino acids.
It comes from human gastric juices and is considered a “stable gastric pentadecapeptide” for its ability to maintain stability for over 24 hours within the harsh environment of human gastric juice.
The peptide is not approved by the FDA for any therapeutic use and is banned by WADA for sports use.
How BPC-157 Therapy Works
BPC-157 helps in the formulation of new blood vessels, also known as angiogenesis, by interacting with growth factors Early growth response factor 1 (EGR-1) and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF).
Angiogenesis helps promote cell generation and healing, which is important in the formation of new blood vessel networks and the wound-healing process.
BPC-157 also works by boosting nitric oxide production and activating fibroblasts, helping with the regeneration of vascular and connective tissues.
Moreover, it interacts with the dopaminergic and alpha-adrenergic systems to help heal gastrointestinal problems.
Top Benefits and Use of BPC-157
Accelerates Wound Healing
BPC-157 can help speed up the wound-healing process. In fact, in mice with burn injuries, those given peptide BPC-157 were able to treat skin burns.
This is because it helps in the formation of collagen fiber as well as decreases the growth of inflammatory cells, as documented in a study published in the Journal of Burns.
The first application of BPC-157 was immediately following burning, and thereafter, once daily, until 24 h before sacrifice.
In the initial experiments, exposure to direct flame for 5 s, BPC-157 was applied at 10 microg or 10 ng/kg b.w. intraperitoneally (i.p.) by injection or alternatively, topically at the burn, as a thin layer of cream (50 microg of BPC 157 dissolved in 2 ml of distilled water was mixed with 50 g of commercial neutral cream (also used as local vehicle-control)), while silver sulfadiazine 1% cream was a standard agent acting locally.
Others received no local medication: they were treated i.p. by injection of distilled water (distilled water-control) or left without any medication (control).
In subsequent experiments involving deeper burns (direct flame for 7 s), BPC-157 creams (50 microg, 5 microg, 500 ng, 50 ng, or 5 ng of BPC 157 dissolved in 2 ml of distilled water was mixed with 50 g of commercial neutral cream), or vehicle as a thin layer of cream, were applied topically at the burn site.
Compared with untreated controls, in both experiments in the BPC-157 cream-treated mice, all parameters of burn healing were improved throughout the experiment; less edema was observed and inflammatory cell numbers decreased.
Less necrosis was seen with an increased number of capillaries, along with an advanced formation of dermal reticulin and collagen fibers. An increased number of preserved follicles was observed.
Two weeks after injury, the BPC-157 cream-treated mice completely reversed the otherwise poor re-epithelization ratio noted in the untreated control or mice treated with vehicle only.
Tensiometry investigation showed increased breaking strength and relative elongation of burned skin, while water content in burned skin decreased.
Relative to control values, BPC-157 given i.p. decreased the number of inflammatory cells, lowered water content in burned skin, and raised breaking strength and relative elongation of burned skin during tensiometry.
Through the experimental period, gastric lesions were continuously noted in all thermally injured mice left without local medication, and they were consistently attenuated only by BPC-157 treatments; either given i.p. (at either dose) or given locally (at either concentration). Other treatments (i.e., local treatment with silver sulfadiazine cream or neutral cream in mice subjected for 5 s to direct flame) led to only poor, if any attenuation.
Similarly, BPC-157 enhanced wound healing in mice with alkali burn-induced skin injuries.
Pentadecapeptide BPC-157 consistently improved given burn healing (both microscopical and tensionmetry assessment) and counteracted corticosteroid-impairment of burn healing.
In burn-gastric lesions, investigation of the effects of BPC showed an anti-ulcer effect of its own in burned non-corticosteroid-treated mice and potentiated the anti-ulcer effect observed in 6alpha-methylprednisolone-treated mice.
Pentadecapeptide BPC-157 inhibited corticosteroid immunosuppression.
In vitro, in splenic cells assessment, animals (sacrificed at day 21) treated with 6alpha-methylprednisolone 1 mg showed decreased reactivity to nitrogen in comparison with control healthy animals, while the addition of BPC-157 (1 microg/g cream) returned cell reactivity to values noted in control healthy animals.
Promotes Healing of Soft Tissue Injuries
The peptide BPC-157 has been shown to accelerate the healing of soft tissue injuries. It also promotes the healing of tendon-to-bone damage, helping in the recovery of musculoskeletal injuries.
These injuries refer to partial or complete damage to the tendons, muscles, and ligaments, which may or may not require surgical repair.
This has been shown in a study in the Journal of Applied Physiology, where BPC-157 helped promote cell survival, tendon outgrowth, and cell migration in rates with soft tissue injury.
Cell proliferation of cultured tendon fibroblasts derived from rat Achilles tendon was not directly affected by BPC-157, as evaluated by MTT assay.
However, the survival of BPC-157-treated cells was significantly increased under the H2O2 stress.
BPC-157 markedly increased the in vitro migration of tendon fibroblasts in a dose-dependent manner, as revealed by the transwell filter migration assay.
BPC-157 also dose-dependently accelerated the spreading of tendon fibroblasts in culture dishes.
The F-actin formation as detected by FITC-phalloidin staining was induced in BPC-157-treated fibroblasts.
The protein expression and activation of FAK and paxillin were determined by Western blot analysis, and the phosphorylation levels of both FAK and paxillin were dose-dependently increased by BPC-157, while the total amounts of protein were unaltered.
In conclusion, BPC-157 promotes the ex vivo outgrowth of tendon fibroblasts from tendon explants, cell survival under stress, and the in vitro migration of tendon fibroblasts, which is likely mediated by the activation of the FAK-paxillin pathway.
Boosts Bone and Joint Health
BPC-157 plays an important role in joint and bone health.
In rabbits, BPC-157 helped increase bone density, helping with segmental bone defects.
Similarly, rats given BPC-157 helped with knee osteoarthritis. It also minimized joint pain and cartilage lesions, resulting in improved mobility and leg length in rats.
A novel stomach pentadecapeptide, BPC-157, improves wound and fracture healing in rats, in addition to having an angiogenic effect.
Therefore, in the present study, using a segmental osteoperiosteal bone defect (0.8 cm, in the middle of the left radius) that remained incompletely healed in all control rabbits for 6 weeks (assessed in 2-week intervals), pentadecapeptide BPC-157 was further studied (either percutaneously given locally [10 μg/kg body weight] into the bone defect, or applied intramuscularly [intermittently, at postoperative days 7, 9, 14, and 16 at 10 μg/kg body weight] or continuously [once per day, postoperative days 7–21 at 10 μg or 10 ng/kg body weight]).
For comparison, rabbits percutaneously received locally autologous bone marrow (2 mL, postoperative day 7).
As standard treatment, immediately after its formation, the bone defect was filled with an autologous cortical graft.
Saline-treated (2 mL intramuscularly [i.m.] and 2 mL locally into the bone defect) injured animals were used as controls.
Pentadecapeptide BPC-157 significantly improved the healing of segmental bone defects.
For instance, upon radiographic assessment, the callus surface, microphoto densitometry, quantitative histomorphometry (10 μg/kg body weight i.m. for 14 days), or quantitative histomorphometry (10 ng/kg body weight i.m. for 14 days), the effect of pentadecapeptide BPC-157 was shown to correspond to improvement after local application of bone marrow or autologous cortical graft.
Improves Cognitive Health
Growing research also supports the cognitive benefits of BPC-157.
This includes one study published in the Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, which suggests that oral administration of BPC-157 in rodents with multiple sclerosis helped decrease brain damage and abnormalities.
BPC-157 was used per-orally in rats subjected to cysteamine enema + colon-colon anastomosis colitis and over-dose cuprizone application, a multiple sclerosis-suited toxic experimental model.
BPC-157 was used in the same regular regimens (10 µg or 10 ng/kg, per-orally/intragastrically), shown to be effective in all BPC-157 studies.
Since the cuprizone regimen was several times higher than those regularly used in cuprizone studies, we used simple tests to determine animal responsiveness and impairment.
The anastomosis and the ulcerative colitis at the same time were assessed grossly, biomechanically, clinically, and microscopically.
As an illustration, the BPC-157 animals exhibited fewer colitis lesions and advanced anastomosis healing, functioning much better and mostly achieving preoperative weight.
They exhibited a higher survival rate, formed feces 3 days following surgery, and had an absence of passage impairment.
Likewise, cuprizone + BPC-157 rats functioned markedly better and exhibited less nerve damage in various brain areas.
Counteracts Alcohol Intoxication
BPC-157 can also help protect and reverse the effects of acute and chronic alcohol intoxication.
In fact, mice with both acute and chronic alcohol-induced lesions given BPC-157 were able to protect their livers, esophagi, and stomachs from damage, according to a study in Medical Science Monitor.
BPC-157 rapidly opposes the strongest disturbance presentations in acute intoxication (sustained ethanol anesthesia, complete loss of righting reflex, no reaction to external stimuli, hypothermia, 25% mortality) and withdrawal (prominent seizures).
NO-agents: Aggravation of acute alcohol intoxication and opposition to withdrawal are common, but the later intervals affected by L-arginine and the action throughout the experiment by L-NAME are distinctive.
Given together, L-arginine and L-NAME counteract each other, while either the “L-NAME presentation” (acute intoxication) or the “L-arginine presentation” (withdrawal) predominates.
BPC-157+NO-agent: In acute intoxication (L-NAME predominating in NO-system functioning to aggravate intoxication), both BPC-157+L-NAME and BPC-157+L-arginine follow the presentation of L-NAME, but without worsened mortality.
In withdrawal (L-arginine predominating in NO-system functioning to oppose disturbance symptoms), BPC157+L-NAME follows the presentation of L-NAME, while BPC 157+L-arginine imitates that of L-arginine.
Improves Cell Health and Recovery
Moreover, BPC-157 can help boost cell health and recovery through several mechanisms.
First, the peptide BPC-157 can help stimulate the production of collagen and angiogenesis, which are essential in the repair of damaged tissue such as tendons, ligaments, muscles, and the gastrointestinal tract.
Second, BPC-157 has anti-inflammatory properties, supporting a healthy wound-healing process.
Third, the peptide helps boost blood flow and oxygen supply to tissue through angiogenesis, thus helping with cell health and recovery.
Lastly, BPC-157 is believed to have an antioxidant property, which can help protect cells from damage caused by oxidative stress.
Dosage
So how much BPC-157 can you take?
Basically, the dosage will depend on your current needs and the condition that’s being treated.
However, the typical range is 200-800 mcg per day, which you can take as a single dose or divided into two or more doses.
For injection, you can take 16 mcg per dose, twice a day, administered subcutaneously or intramuscularly.
For oral administration, you can take a 500 mcg per dose, twice a day, and the capsules can be taken with or without food.
It’s best to start at a lower dose and gradually increase it as tolerated.
Side Effects of BPC 157
BPC-157 is generally well-tolerated, but some common side effects you may experience during your initial use include dizziness, fatigue, erratic blood pressure and heart rhythm, hot flashes, and vomiting.
When using BPC-157 correctly (i.e., employing proper injection techniques, storing and reconstituting the peptide appropriately, calculating the right dose, sourcing pharmaceutical-grade BPC-157 only, etc.), it is highly unlikely that you will encounter these issues.
BPC-157 vs TB-500: The Takeaway
Now that we understand how both TB-500 and BPC-157 can help in promoting wound healing and recovery, let’s explore some of the major differences between these peptides.
Structure
BPC-157 is a synthetic peptide made with 15 amino acids, while TB-500 is a synthetic counterpart of Thymosin Beta-4.
Mechanism
BPC-157 interacts with EGR-1 and VEGF, promoting the development of new blood vessels or angiogenesis.
On the other hand, TB-500 binds to actin, influencing cell shape and motility.
When bound with the cell surface, ATP synthase enzymes can stimulate angiogenesis.
FDA Approval
Neither BPC-157 nor TB-500 are approved by the FDA for human use.
However, clinical studies show that administering 150 mcg of BPC-157 per day and 0.5 mcg/kg for up to 2 weeks of TB-500 have promising health benefits.
Can You Take a Combination of TB-500 vs BPC-157?
The answer is YES!
You can take TB-500 with BPC-157.
The combination of the two peptides can help accelerate actin production, which is helpful in the formation of the body’s cells.
As a result, it helps with cell growth and regeneration of injured areas very quickly.
You can take 100-300 mcg of the combination of the two peptides via subcutaneous injection, for no more than 3 months or until your injury finally heals.
If you need to use them for 3 months, you can cycle 3 months “on” and one month “off.”
Conclusion
BPC157 and TB500 each have their own unique qualities, making direct comparisons unnecessary.
While they work differently, both of them can help with healing and recovery, making them a perfect match for healing and repairing wounds in all kinds of tissue.
If you’re in search of the best healing peptides such as BPC157 and TB500, look no further…
We recommend Limitless Life Nootropics, as they have some of the best formulations of TB-500 and BPC-157 peptides on the market.
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PS — Join me and other biohackers in The Fully Optimized Health Private Membership Group to learn how you can use peptides, especially TB-500 and BPC-157, to aid in wound healing and optimize your health in your 30s and beyond.
We’re excited to discuss biohacking, health, and life optimization through peptide therapy with you. See you on the other side!
