Do We Have a New Psoriasis Drug?

Abstract

Pentadekapeptide BPC 157 was used in numerous laboratory rat animal models with proven cytoprotective and organ protective properties. In different wound therapy (incisional/excisional wound, deep burns, diabetic ulcer, alkali burns) fast and complete tissue restitution was achieved. BPC 157 was found to rapidly stimulate the expression of various genes involved in the healing process of the skin and mucosal lesions in these models. Psoriasis is a chronic, relapsing, immune‐mediated skin disease pathogenically driven by proinflammatory cytokines of which: TNF‐alpha, IL‐12, IL‐17, IL‐23 play a key role. Since BPC 157 has shown a significant anti‐inflammatory effect in several studies, the aim of this study is to show that it has the same role in the regression of inflammatory skin lesions such as those in psoriasis. An experimental model of psoriasis in laboratory animals is easily feasible, using 5% imiquimod topically.MATERIALS AND METHODS The experiment is done on male Wistar Albino rats. Animals are divided into groups of 6. „Psoriasis‐like” lesions are induced in all animals applying 5% imiquimod cream topically on shaved skin on their backs for 7 consecutive days. On the 7th day, 3 hours after applying imiquimod cream treatment starts usage BPC 157 in cream (conc. 1μg/g neutral cream) or only neutral cream (Belobaza) in control groups. Animals are treated and observed daily, video documentation was made. Animals are treated until the sacrifice day according to schedule. The severity of skin lesions is measured clinically using a modified version of Psoriasis Area Severity Index‐PASI score. Modified PASI includes scoring the following lesion features: erythema, infiltration, desquamation on scale 1‐4; maximum modified PASI value is 12. Two way ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc test were used for statistical analysis. Data represented as mean SD for N=6/group.RESULTS Animals treated using BPC 157 conc.1μg/g in a cream had significantly lower values of PASI score when compared to control group. Faster resolution of imiquimod induced „psoriasis‐like” lesions was achieved using BPC 157 when compared to control group.CONCLUSION BPC 157 is well‐known peptide used in various experimental models without any side effects of it's use, with proven effects on the NO‐system, and excellent results in wound healing. Psoriasis is a rather common immune‐mediated skin disease driven by proinflammatory cytokines. TNF‐alpha, IL‐12, IL‐17, IL‐23 play a key role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. It is undisputably that the use of BPC 157 topically successfully neutralizes the effects of imiquimod and induces regression of „psoriasis‐like“ lesions, the question that needs to be answered yet is whether BPC 157 has an impact on one of the above‐mentioned cytokines. It is yet to be explored which mechanism is the key to it´s beneficial effects in treating „psoriasis‐like“ lesions in experimental models.