Browse more peptide research, methods and limitations.
BNP and NT-proBNP were elevated in atrial fibrillation with levels influenced by rhythm burden AND underlying cardiac function, requiring AF-specific cutoff values for clinical interpretation rather than standard heart failure reference ranges.
Wozakowska-Kapłon, Beata; Opolski, Grzegorz; Herman, Zbigniew; Kosior, Dariusz · Cross Sectional
VIP's immunomodulatory spectrum expanded to include Th17 cell regulation: suppressing pathogenic IL-17 producing cells in addition to its established Th1 suppression and Treg promotion — comprehensive anti-autoimmune peptide with Th1/Th17/Treg triple regulation.
Yadav, Mahesh; Goetzl, Edward J · Review
GHRP-2 directly reduced dexamethasone-induced muscle atrophy gene expression (atrogin-1/MAFbx, MuRF1) in C2C12 myocytes via GHS-R — demonstrating direct GH-independent muscle-protective effects against steroid-induced catabolism at the cellular level.
Yamamoto, Daisuke; Ikeshita, Nobuko; Matsubara, Takako; Tasaki, Hiromitsu; Herningtyas, Elizabeth Henny; Toda, Keizo; Iida, Keiji; Takahashi, Yutaka; Kaji, Hidesuke; Chihara, Kazuo; Okimura, Yasuhiko · Animal Study
Meta-analysis of thymosin alpha-1 versus interferon-alpha for chronic HBV found similar virological response rates (HBeAg seroconversion) but thymosin alpha-1 had significantly fewer adverse effects and better tolerability — establishing it as the better-tolerated alternative.
Yang, Yong-Feng; Zhao, Wei; Zhong, Yan-Dan; Yang, Yi-Jun; Shen, Ling; Zhang, Ning; Huang, Ping · Meta Analysis
Lactoferricin derivatives killed bacteria by inducing membrane curvature stress (lipid phase transitions), with peptide-induced negative curvature strain correlating with antimicrobial activity — a biophysical mechanism beyond simple pore formation.
Zweytick, Dagmar; Tumer, Sabine; Blondelle, Sylvie E; Lohner, Karl · In Vitro
Ipamorelin improved nitrogen balance and reduced urea synthesis in dexamethasone-treated rats comparably to GH injection, demonstrating GH secretagogue equivalence to direct GH for counteracting steroid-induced protein catabolism.
Aagaard, Niels Kristian; Grøfte, Thorbjørn; Greisen, Jacob; Malmlöf, Kjell; Johansen, Peter B; Grønbaek, Henning; Ørskov, Hans; Tygstrup, Niels; Vilstrup, Hendrik · Animal Study
Peripheral ghrelin activates mesolimbic dopamine reward pathways (VTA → nucleus accumbens), linking the hunger hormone to food reward and hedonic eating — a gut-brain-dopamine axis connecting appetite to pleasure and potentially to addictive eating behavior.
Abizaid, Alfonso · Review
Systematic peptide amphiphile modifications (amino acid sequence, alkyl tail length, electrostatic charge) enabled precise gelation property control (gel time, stiffness, recovery), creating a modular scaffold platform tunable for specific tissue engineering requirements.
Anderson, Joel M; Andukuri, Adinarayana; Lim, Dong Jin; Jun, Ho-Wook · In Vitro
Pediatric CRF patients showed altered ghrelin, PYY3-36, and GLP-1 profiles that changed with dialysis and post-transplant, with appetite hormone disturbances correlating with growth impairment — explaining appetite-growth dysfunction in pediatric kidney disease.
Arbeiter, Anja K; Büscher, Rainer; Petersenn, Stephan; Hauffa, Berthold P; Mann, Klaus; Hoyer, Peter F · Clinical Trial
BPC-157 prevented methyldigoxin-induced arrhythmias in rats through NO-system interaction (L-NAME attenuated, L-arginine enhanced the effect), demonstrating antiarrhythmic cardioprotection mediated by nitric oxide signaling — a new cardiovascular application.
Balenovic, Dijana; Bencic, Martina Lovric; Udovicic, Mario; Simonji, Karol; Hanzevacki, Jadranka Separovic; Barisic, Ivan; Kranjcevic, Stjepan; Prkacin, Ingrid; Coric, Vedran; Brcic, Luka; Coric, Marijana; Brcic, Iva; Borovic, Suzana; Radic, Bozo; Drmic, Domagoj; Vrcic, Hrvoje; Seiwerth, Sven; Sikiric, Predrag ·
Peptidyl and non-peptidyl GH secretagogues acted as orthosteric super-agonists at GHS-R1a (exceeding ghrelin's own maximal receptor activation) rather than allosteric modulators — they directly activate the receptor more potently than the natural hormone itself.
Bennett, Kirstie A; Langmead, Christopher J; Wise, Alan; Milligan, Graeme ·
H. pylori eradication in mice left persistent abnormal feeding behavior and gut-brain axis changes despite successful bacterial elimination, suggesting the infection permanently reprograms appetite regulation — not all gut-brain changes reverse when the infection is cleared.
Bercik, Premysl; Verdú, Elena F; Foster, Jane A; Lu, Jun; Scharringa, Angela; Kean, Iain; Wang, Lu; Blennerhassett, Patricia; Collins, Stephen M ·
BPC-157 blocked morphine-induced analgesia in mice, directly demonstrating interaction with the opioid system — confirming BPC-157's pharmacological relationship with opioid pathways and consistent with its known dopaminergic and GABAergic system modulation.
Boban Blagaic, A; Turcic, P; Blagaic, V; Dubovecak, M; Jelovac, N; Zemba, M; Radic, B; Becejac, T; Stancic Rokotov, D; Sikiric, P ·
LFchimera (lactoferricin-lactoferrampin hybrid) showed stronger bactericidal activity and greater ionic strength tolerance than either parent peptide, demonstrating synergistic improvement from combining two antimicrobial domains of lactoferrin into a single chimeric peptide.
Bolscher, Jan G M; Adão, Regina; Nazmi, Kamran; van den Keybus, Petra A M; van 't Hof, Wim; Nieuw Amerongen, Arie V; Bastos, Margarida; Veerman, Enno C I ·
Cardiac kappa-opioid receptor stimulation affected systolic function differently in hypertensive versus normotensive rat hearts, revealing disease-state-dependent opioid cardiac pharmacology.
Bolte, Craig; Newman, Gilbert; Schultz, Jo El J ·
BPC-157's healing of muscle and tendon injuries was mediated by enhanced angiogenesis (new blood vessel formation), confirming angiogenesis as the primary mechanism for its musculoskeletal repair effects.
Brcic, L; Brcic, I; Staresinic, M; Novinscak, T; Sikiric, P; Seiwerth, S ·
Resistance and aerobic exercise differentially influenced circulating ghrelin and PYY levels in healthy males, with exercise type determining which appetite hormones change — informing exercise prescriptions for appetite management.
Broom, David R; Batterham, Rachel L; King, James A; Stensel, David J ·
Intravitreal injection of VIP-loaded liposomes protected against autoimmune uveitis in rats, demonstrating sustained neuropeptide delivery for treating inflammatory eye disease.
Camelo, Serge; Lajavardi, Laure; Bochot, Amélie; Goldenberg, Brigitte; Naud, Marie-Christine; Brunel, Nadège; Lescure, Bernadette; Klein, Christophe; Fattal, Elias; Behar-Cohen, Francine; de Kozak, Yvonne ·
Mice lacking oxytocin developed obesity with reduced sympathetic nervous system activity, establishing oxytocin as an endogenous metabolic regulator beyond its social bonding role.
Camerino, Claudia ·
Gut microbiota fermentation of prebiotics increased production of satiety gut peptides (GLP-1, PYY) with consequent appetite reduction and improved metabolic parameters — the microbiome-satiety connection.
Cani, Patrice D; Lecourt, Elodie; Dewulf, Evelyne M; Sohet, Florence M; Pachikian, Barbara D; Naslain, Damien; De Backer, Fabienne; Neyrinck, Audrey M; Delzenne, Nathalie M ·
The ghrelin gene produces both ghrelin (appetite-stimulating, gut motility-promoting) and obestatin (with debated appetite-suppressing effects), with the gene's net effect on food intake and gut motility reviewed.
Chen, Chih-Yen; Fujimiya, Mineko; Asakawa, Akihiro; Chang, Full-Young; Cheng, Juei-Tang; Lee, Shou-Dong; Inui, Akio ·
Recombinant lactoferricin-related antimicrobial peptides were expressed in Pichia pastoris yeast with retained antibacterial activity, establishing yeast expression for commercial antimicrobial peptide manufacturing.
Chen, Gen-Hung; Chen, Wei-Ming; Huang, Guo-Ting; Chen, Yu-Wen; Jiang, Shann-Tzong ·
Novel ghrelin analogs designed for anti-obesity applications include receptor antagonists, inverse agonists, and modified peptides targeting specific ghrelin functions — the drug design landscape for ghrelin-based weight management.
Chollet, Constance; Meyer, Karolin; Beck-Sickinger, Annette G ·
Five distinct neuropeptide systems were identified as significant regulators of alcohol-related behavior: 1. A new CRH receptor 1 antagonist reduced alcohol consumption and stress-induced relapse in animal models of alcohol abuse. 2. The urocortin 1 receptor system plays a role in regulating alcohol intake. 3. The neuropeptide Y receptor system modulates behaviors associated with a history of ethanol intoxication. 4. Nociceptin/orphanin FQ receptors represent treatment targets for alcoholism. 5. Neurokinin 1 antagonism showed promising preclinical and clinical evidence as a treatment for alcoholism. Collectively, these findings highlight that neuropeptide neurotransmission is central to the neurobiological mechanisms of alcohol addiction.
Ciccocioppo, Roberto; Gehlert, Donald R; Ryabinin, Andrey; Kaur, Simranjit; Cippitelli, Andrea; Thorsell, Annika; Lê, Anh D; Hipskind, Philip A; Hamdouchi, Chafiq; Lu, Jianliang; Hembre, Erik J; Cramer, Jeffrey; Song, Min; McKinzie, David; Morin, Michelle; Economidou, Daina; Stopponi, Serena; Cannella, Nazzareno; Braconi, Simone; Kallupi, Marsida; de Guglielmo, Giordano; Massi, Maurizio; George, David T; Gilman, Jody; Hersh, Jacqueline; Tauscher, Johannes T; Hunt, Stephen P; Hommer, Daniel; Heilig, Markus ·
Comprehensive review of ghrelin/GH secretagogue physiology and pharmacology covering receptor biology, signaling, GH release, appetite, cardiovascular, and clinical applications — the definitive 2009 reference.
Cordido, Fernando; Isidro, Maria Luisa; Nemiña, Rosa; Sangiao-Alvarellos, Susana ·
Inflammatory signals directly regulate cardiac natriuretic peptide gene expression and secretion, explaining why BNP rises in inflammatory conditions beyond heart failure — inflammation-cardiac peptide cross-talk.
de Bold, Adolfo J ·
Motilin and ghrelin receptor agonists are prokinetic drug candidates for gastroparesis, with ghrelin's dual appetite + motility effects offering unique therapeutic advantages over pure prokinetics.
De Smet, Betty; Mitselos, Anna; Depoortere, Inge ·
Neuropeptides (VIP, PACAP, alpha-MSH) generate tolerogenic dendritic cells that suppress autoimmune responses through Treg induction — a practical immunotherapy approach using the neuroimmune system.
Delgado, Mario ·
GHRP-6 protected hypothalamic neurons from glutamate excitotoxicity through a caspase-independent mechanism, suggesting non-apoptotic neuroprotection distinct from classical anti-apoptotic pathways.
Delgado-Rubín, A; Chowen, Julie A; Argente, Jesús; Frago, Laura M ·
Updated comprehensive review of CCK's gut-brain signaling: vagal afferent activation, brainstem processing, hypothalamic integration, and therapeutic implications for obesity and appetite disorders.
Dockray, Graham J ·
The vagus nerve serves as the primary communication highway between gut peptide signals (CCK, GLP-1, PYY, ghrelin) and the brain, with vagal afferents detecting and transmitting satiety information to central appetite circuits.
Dockray, Graham J ·
Self-assembling peptide nanofiber scaffolds supported embryonic fibroblast implantation and proliferation in vitro, demonstrating biocompatibility for cell-based tissue engineering applications.
Dégano, Irene R; Quintana, Lluís; Vilalta, Marta; Horna, David; Rubio, Nuria; Borrós, Salvador; Semino, Carlos; Blanco, Jerónimo ·
AVP and oxytocin modulate human social behavior through distinct but overlapping mechanisms: oxytocin promotes trust and empathy while vasopressin influences social recognition, pair-bonding, and aggression.
Ebstein, Richard P; Israel, Salomon; Lerer, Elad; Uzefovsky, Florina; Shalev, Idan; Gritsenko, Inga; Riebold, Mathias; Salomon, Shahaf; Yirmiya, Nurit ·
Heparan sulfate on tumor cell surfaces inhibited lytic anticancer peptide activity, identifying a tumor resistance mechanism and suggesting heparanase combination therapy to unmask cancer cells for peptide killing.
Fadnes, Bodil; Rekdal, Oystein; Uhlin-Hansen, Lars ·
Apelin decreased right ventricular injury and improved cardiac function in monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension rats, establishing apelin as a cardioprotective peptide for pulmonary hypertension.
Falcão-Pires, Inês; Gonçalves, Nádia; Henriques-Coelho, Tiago; Moreira-Gonçalves, Daniel; Roncon-Albuquerque, Roberto; Leite-Moreira, Adelino F ·
Neuronal M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors were shown to be essential for somatotroph (GH cell) proliferation and normal body growth, revealing a cholinergic requirement for the GH axis.
Gautam, Dinesh; Jeon, Jongrye; Starost, Matthew F; Han, Sung-Jun; Hamdan, Fadi F; Cui, Yinghong; Parlow, Albert F; Gavrilova, Oksana; Szalayova, Ildiko; Mezey, Eva; Wess, Jürgen ·
The intestinal STC-1 cell line released PYY in response to nutrients and signaling molecules, providing a model for studying how the gut produces and regulates this satiety peptide.
Geraedts, M C P; Troost, F J; Saris, W H M ·
Researchers identified specific amino acid residues in the CRF1 receptor that are critical for binding corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) family peptides. Using alanine-scanning mutagenesis of the second extracellular loop (EL2), they found that tryptophan-259 (W259) and phenylalanine-260 (F260) are essential for peptide binding. Mutating either or both of these residues significantly reduced both binding affinity and signaling potency for sauvagine (a CRF analog) and the endogenous ligand CRF itself. Importantly, these mutations didn't affect binding of non-peptide ligands (astressin and antalarmin) that bind to different receptor regions, confirming that W259 and F260 specifically mediate peptide-receptor interactions. The study mapped the contact to amino-terminal residues 8-10 of the peptide ligands, providing the first detailed picture of how CRF family peptides dock into this specific receptor region.
Gkountelias, Kostas; Tselios, Theodoros; Venihaki, Maria; Deraos, George; Lazaridis, Iakovos; Rassouli, Olga; Gravanis, Achille; Liapakis, George · Original Research
Updated review of thymosin alpha-1's expanding clinical applications: hepatitis B/C, cancer immunotherapy, vaccine adjuvancy, HIV immune reconstitution, and emerging uses in sepsis and immunodeficiency.
Goldstein, Allan L; Goldstein, Adam L ·
Topical peptides used in anti-aging skincare fall into four functional categories: signal peptides (which stimulate collagen and other protein production), enzyme-inhibitor peptides (which block enzymes that break down skin proteins), neurotransmitter-inhibitor peptides (which relax facial muscles to reduce wrinkles, similar to botox), and carrier peptides (which deliver trace elements like copper to skin cells). The review assessed controlled ex vivo and in vivo studies for these categories, evaluating the evidence base for their efficacy in treating signs of skin aging.
Gorouhi, F; Maibach, H I · Review
NAP (NAPVSIPQ), an 8-amino-acid neuroprotective peptide delivered intranasally as AL-108, showed positive results on memory function in a Phase IIa clinical trial for patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), a precursor to Alzheimer's disease. NAP works by stabilizing microtubules — the internal structural scaffolding of neurons — against tau-related damage that causes neurofibrillary tangles, one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's. This was one of the first tau-targeted peptide approaches to reach clinical testing.
Gozes, Illana; Stewart, Alistair; Morimoto, Bruce; Fox, Anthony; Sutherland, Karole; Schmeche, Donald · Review
GLP-2 reduced intestinal permeability in NOD mice but did not prevent type 1 diabetes onset, separating gut barrier repair from autoimmune diabetes prevention — gut healing alone doesn't prevent autoimmunity.
Hadjiyanni, Irene; Li, Kunmin Karen; Drucker, Daniel J ·
Exercise altered energy-regulating hormones (ghrelin, PYY, GLP-1, insulin, leptin) differently between men and women, with sex-specific appetite hormone responses — exercise appetite effects are gender-dependent.
Hagobian, Todd A; Sharoff, Carrie G; Stephens, Brooke R; Wade, George N; Silva, J Enrique; Chipkin, Stuart R; Braun, Barry ·
The spleen plays an important role in splanchnic vascular tone regulation, with implications for portal hypertension and the vascular effects of gut peptides including BPC-157's previously demonstrated portal pressure reduction.
Hamza, Shereen M; Kaufman, Susan ·
The endogenous ghrelin, synthetic agonists, and ago-allosteric modulators all bind overlapping sites on the ghrelin receptor — they compete for the same binding pocket rather than using separate allosteric sites.
Holst, Birgitte; Frimurer, Thomas M; Mokrosinski, Jacek; Halkjaer, Tine; Cullberg, Karina B; Underwood, Christina R; Schwartz, Thue W ·
Comprehensive review of mu, delta, and kappa opioid receptor distribution and function throughout the GI tract, explaining how opioid drugs cause constipation and how peripheral opioid antagonists can treat it.
Holzer, Peter ·
This paper describes the design of CASTA — one of the largest randomized controlled trials of cerebrolysin (a peptide mixture with neurotrophic and neuroprotective properties) for acute ischemic stroke. The trial enrolled 1,060 patients across 50+ centers in Asia, randomized within 12 hours of stroke onset to receive either 30 mL cerebrolysin or placebo IV daily for 10 days, added to standard care. Primary efficacy was assessed at day 90 using three validated stroke outcome scales (modified Rankin Scale, Barthel Index, NIH Stroke Scale) combined into a single global test. The study design — large, double-blind, placebo-controlled, with 90-day follow-up — represented a significant step up from the smaller trials that had previously suggested cerebrolysin's efficacy in stroke.
Hong, Z; Moessler, H; Bornstein, N; Brainin, M; Heiss, W-D · Randomized Controlled Trial (Protocol/Design Paper)
BPC-157 improved outcomes of abdominal aorta anastomosis surgery in rats when given as both prophylaxis and therapy — adding major vascular surgery protection to its expanding therapeutic profile.
Hrelec, M; Klicek, R; Brcic, L; Brcic, I; Cvjetko, I; Seiwerth, S; Sikiric, P ·
Thymosin alpha-1 immunotherapy restored immune homeostasis (CD4/CD8 ratio, HLA-DR expression) and increased survival in septic patients — clinical evidence for peptide immunotherapy in the most lethal infectious condition.
Huang, Shun-wei; Chen, Juan; Ouyang, Bin; Yang, Chun-hua; Chen, Min-ying; Guan, Xiang-dong ·
BPC-157 attenuated gastric ulcers, seizures, brain lesions, hepatomegaly, and other damage from severe insulin overdose in rats — comprehensive multi-organ protection against hypoglycemic crisis.
Ilic, S; Brcic, I; Mester, M; Filipovic, M; Sever, M; Klicek, R; Barisic, I; Radic, B; Zoricic, Z; Bilic, V; Berkopic, L; Brcic, L; Kolenc, D; Romic, Z; Pazanin, L; Seiwerth, S; Sikiric, P ·