As Dr Seeds has pointed out, fibrosis is the enemy of muscle growth. I have used his recommendation of a baby aspirin on off days and think it is brilliant.I have been reading about some peptide options that are being researched for reducing fibrosis and wondered if there would be a practical application for integrating them into a training program. Slow I have listed the peptides I am aware of and hoped someone might have some experience/ feedback on these (observation, dose range, route of administration, timing, safety and any other feedback. My theory would be to potentially use something like a B7 33 on an off training day or GHKcu supportivly during a neural hypertrophy training phase.
GHK-Cu has been found to have anti-fibrotic effects in several studies. The following are the effects of GHK-Cu on fibrosis:
1. GHK-Cu has been found to exert anti-fibrotic effects through the IGF-1 and TGFβ1/Smad2/3 signaling pathway and attenuates collagen deposition, the inflammatory response, and EMT[1][2].
2. GHK-Cu has been found to restore the pathological changes induced by bleomycin and alleviate the levels of TNF-ɑ and IL-6 in BALF, as well as the MPO activity, while reducing the collagen deposition[3][4][5].
3. GHK-Cu has been found to significantly improve the MMP-9/TIMP-1 imbalance in the lungs and prevent EMT partially[3][4][5].
4. GHK-Cu has been found to reverse BLM-induced increases in NF-κB, TGF-β1, and the phosphorylation of Smad2/3, while increasing the level of Nrf2 as the antioxidant[3][4][5].
5. GHK-Cu has been found to inhibit BLM-induced inflammatory and fibrotic pathological changes, alleviate the inflammatory response in the BALF by reducing the levels of the inflammatory cytokines, TNF-ɑ and IL-6, and the activity of MPO as well as reduce collagen deposition[4][5].
6. GHK-Cu has been found to present a protective effect in BLM-induced inflammation and oxidative stress by inhibiting EMT progression and suppressing TGFβ1/Smad2/3 signaling in pulmonary fibrosis[5].
Overall, GHK-Cu has been found to have anti-fibrotic effects through various pathways and has been studied as a potential therapeutic agent for fibrotic diseases.
Sources
[1] Summary of the effects of GHK on pulmonary fibrosis. … https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Summary-of-the-effects-of-GHK-on-pulmonary-fibrosis-GHK-exerts-anti-fibrotic-effects_fig5_321755090
[2] GHK Peptide Inhibits Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis … https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5733019/
[3] Antioxidant and anti-inflammation effect of GHK-Cu in … https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/52/suppl_62/PA2957
[4] Protective effects of GHK-Cu in bleomycin-induced … https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31809714/
[5] Protective effects of GHK-Cu in bleomycin-induced … https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0024320519310677
B733 is not mentioned in any of the search results. However, B7-33 peptide, which is similar in name to B733, has been found to exhibit potent anti-fibrotic effects. B7-33 peptide has been studied as a means of reducing fibrosis in acute and chronic diseases such as heart failure, lung inflammation, kidney disease, and more. In animal studies, B7-33 has reduced fibrosis by roughly 50%, leading to prolonged survival following injury and offering the first new means of treating heart failure in 20 years. B7-33 has also shown promise in treating certain vascular disorders and pregnancy preeclampsia. Therefore, while B733 is not mentioned, B7-33 peptide has shown potent anti-fibrotic effects and is being studied as a means of reducing fibrosis in various diseases.
Sources
Role of B7H3/IL-33 Signaling in Pulmonary Fibrosis-induced Profibrogenic Alterations in Bone Marrow – PubMed https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Thank you in advance for any feedback and insights. This is an amazing community and I feel blessed to be a part of it and have this opportunity to learn.