Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are two of the more common neurodegenerative diseases, with nearly seven million people in the US living with the conditions in 2023. While AD is more prevalent than ALS, they are both characterized by the progressive loss of specific neurons and glial cells in the central nervous system.
Research has demonstrated that the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases appear to be delayed or improved by the application of neurotrophic factors and that the derived peptide factors from these neurotrophic factors have been found to potentially restore neuronal function, improve behavioral deficits, and prolong their survival.
In this review, Ciesler and Sari review the role of trophic peptides in the improvement of AD and ALS with the goal of developing a better understanding of potential therapies for these neurodegenerative diseases.
While neurodegenerative diseases, including AD and ALS, are well documented to result in debilitating loss of memory and motor function, respectively, the specific mechanisms of action in these diseases are yet to be fully understood. However, research has found that the potential underlying mechanisms can be divided into two categories. The first, which is unique to each neurodegenerative disease, is a specific trigger that activates cell death machinery and the second, which appears to be universal among neurodegenerative diseases, is a directorial process to complete death of a neuron.
While there are currently no effective drugs for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, treatments of the symptoms associated with neurodegenerative diseases include neuroprotective factors, encompassing neurotrophins, and neuroprotective peptides. The authors focus this review on NAP peptide derived from activity neuroprotective protein and ADNF-9 peptide derived from activity-dependent neurotrophic factor (ADNF); both of these peptides have been shown to enhance cell survival and outgrowth of dendrites in the form of D-acid analogues.
NAP’s parent protein, ADNP, is essential for brain development and was found to protect neurons against severe oxidative stress. Studies examining NAP have found them to protect against neurotoxins while not affecting cell division. Considering these findings, NAP is now in phase II clinical trials with a primary focus on AD-related cognitive impairment. Additional studies are also evaluating the effects of NAP in ALS models associated with cytoskeletal dysfunction. NAP has been found to extend life span in ALS mouse models when administered prior to disease onset.
ADNF is released in response to vasoactive intestinal peptide that protects neurons from tetrodotoxin-induced cell death and is suggested to be essential for neuronal survival. ADNF-9 showed greater prevention of cell death associated with stress than other ADNF peptides; additional studies demonstrate that ADNF-9 suppressed SOD-1-mediated cell death. While prolonged survival of ALS mouse model was reported to be marginal, the authors highlight that the study did provide insight into a possible treatment for ALS.
The authors also highlight colivelin, a hybrid synthetic peptide of ANDF-9 and humanin, which was found to provide neuroprotection against AD-related memory loss and have a more potent neuroprotective effect than humanin and ADNF-9 when they are tested alone against neurotoxicity.
Ciesler and Sari conclude that in contrast to neurotrophic factors these trophic peptides have the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier for efficacy and have potential for future treatment of ALS and AD.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive joint disease that occurs as a result of the cartilage that cushions the bones wearing down over time. Currently, it is estimated that over 500 million people worldwide are affected by OA.
Clinical OA studies have shown that when the condition is linked to metabolic syndrome, OA often results in more significant joint damage and overall disability. Additionally, these studies have also demonstrated a link between metabolic syndrome and OA, including a higher likelihood of dyslipidemia – an imbalance of lipids including cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, (LDL-C), triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL).
In this single-arm, open-label, prospective, non-randomized pilot study, Liu et al. evaluated the efficacy and safety of pentosan polysulfate sodium (PPS) for dyslipidemia and knee OA-related symptoms.
PPS has exhibited potential treatment benefits for OA in previous studies. Specifically, animal models have shown PPS to reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels while also exhibiting anti-inflammatory properties. These studies have also demonstrated that PPS demonstrates properties that might be related to the treatment benefit for OA and dyslipidemia and could potentially improve plasma lipid levels, clinical assessments, and cartilage metabolism.
At the conclusion of this study, the authors observed a statistically significant decrease in LDL and a significant reduction in knee OA-related symptoms, including joint-related pain and stiffness.
The findings of this study showed promising treatment effects of PPS for improving dyslipidemia and clinically observed symptoms related to knee OA (including knee pain, stiffness, and disability). Although this study found that PPS significantly reduced blood levels of total and LDL cholesterol in humans (a finding previously confirmed in animal models), the authors also pointed out that no significant change was found in the primary outcome of triglyceride levels.
While PPS, when administered in a dose of 10 mg/kg, was demonstrated to be safe and well tolerated, the authors point out that this was the first known study investigating the efficacy and safety of oral PPS in people with dyslipidemia and knee OA.
Liu et al. also highlighted a few limitations of this study, including the small sample size of 38 participants which limited the interpretation of any treatment effect in the context of such variations. Other confounding factors identified in this study included various lifestyle changes that occurred over the course of the 26-week study.
The authors also pointed out that, while significant reductions in pain subscales were observed, the changes were similar in magnitude to changes observed over similar periods on the placebo arm of recent placebo-controlled knee OA pharmacological randomized clinical trials (RCTs).
To further validate the findings of this study, Liu et al. call for a larger RCT with an appropriate control group.
The authors conclude that oral treatment with PPS demonstrated treatment effects to improve dyslipidemia and clinical symptoms related to knee OA and that further studies in this area are necessary.
Are you interested in regenerative medical treatments? Regenerative medicine, including stem cell treatments and peptide therapy, is growing in popularity with each passing year. Here we will discuss the benefits of Peptide Therapy!
Peptide therapy is an innovative way to address everything from hair loss to sexual dysfunction. Peptides are molecules that form by combining amino acids and peptide bonds. These small chains of amino acids make up proteins in various parts of the body. These are 5 of the top health benefits associated with peptide therapy.
1. Increased Hair Growth
Hair loss is one of the most common aesthetic complaints among men and women. Thinning hair can occur for a variety of reasons, including stress, nutritional deficiencies, and aging.
One way to encourage new hair growth and diminish fallout is through peptide therapy. Peptides can provide regenerative properties that reduce hair loss from conditions like alopecia and telogen effluvium.
2. Improved Sex Life
As you age, it’s normal to experience a change in your sex life due to decreasing hormones. When hormones like testosterone decline, men can experience decreased libido and poor sexual stamina. With lower estrogen levels, women often experience vaginal dryness and a general disinterest in sex.
Peptide therapy can help negate these hormonal changes and improve your overall sexual function.
3. Anti-Aging Effects
Anti-aging effects are another benefit of peptide therapy. Aging can produce a lot of changes throughout your body, from wrinkles to decreased energy. When used in conjunction with a healthy diet and exercise routine, peptide therapy may help you feel younger and ward off common signs of aging.
4. More Muscle Growth
Peptides can encourage increased muscle mass by supporting the chemical process that produces muscle growth. To form muscle, your pituitary gland releases hormones into your body.
These hormones travel throughout your body until they reach the liver. There, growth factor-1 or GF-1 is released to stimulate new muscle growth. Peptides can help encourage this process in individuals who are having trouble accumulating muscle mass due to aging or other factors.
5. Healthier Skin
One of the biggest benefits of peptide treatment is younger-looking, healthier skin. Many skincare products are now formulated with peptides to produce anti-aging effects and boost overall skin health.
Peptides work beneath the surface of the skin to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines while encouraging new collagen production. This leads to a smoother, more youthful complexion overall. To learn more about the benefits of peptide Therapy call us today at Stemedix and speak with our staff!
End-stage kidney disease (ESKD) occurs when the kidneys cannot function at a level that supports the body’s needs. The kidneys serve a critical role in the body, removing waste and excess water.
Patients with chronic kidney disease may find the functionality of their kidneys declines slowly over ten to twenty years before reaching this stage. The most common causes of ESKD are diabetes and high blood pressure.
How Is ESKD Treated?
The two primary conventional treatments for ESKD are dialysis and kidney transplants. Patients who have retained only 10%–15% of their kidney function typically require dialysis.
Dialysis takes over the following functions of the kidneys as their performance declines:
Removing excess waste, water, and salt
Maintaining safe levels of vitamins and minerals
Controlling blood pressure
Helping produce red blood cells
Frequently, patients require dialysis while they wait for a kidney transplant.
What Can Peptide BPC-157 Do for the ESKD?
Clinical studies examining peptides’ effects on restoring organ function found significant benefits in treating ESKD with peptide BPC-157. Peptides are strings of amino acids that create proteins in the body. While the body naturally produces peptides, scientists can also form them in a lab to mimic those in the body.
In a 2019 clinical case, a patient whose kidney function had declined to the point that he required five dialysis treatments a week to stay alive underwent peptide therapy to repair the organ damage.
The treatment resulted in a dramatic improvement in his kidney function and overall health. Within two months, the patient’s dialysis needs declined from five weekly treatments to one, and the peptides remarkably restored his gait, strength, and balance.
The Significance of Peptide Treatments
The importance of the healing effects of peptide treatments can’t be understated. Patients with chronic kidney failure, heart failure, and other conditions currently have minimal options through conventional medicine.
As peptide treatments and other innovative medical approaches deliver positive results, it opens the door to further studies and potential therapy options for previously untreatable conditions.
The supplement and health industries are ever-evolving. Due to the constantly changing supplement landscape, it can be difficult to sort out genuine products from fads that do not offer any real value to consumers. This article will help you better understand peptides and especially the ARA-290 peptide.
Recently, peptides have become a part of the supplement market. Peptides are essential to human life and are naturally occurring compounds that are present in every living cell. They are made of short chains of at least two amino acids and serve many different biological purposes.
Unlike many other supplements, peptides like ARA-290 can offer patients an affordable alternative to manage pain, improve symptoms, and promote healing.
What is ARA-290?
ARA-290 is a peptide that is derived from erythropoietin (EPO). EPO has been utilized for decades because of its ability to stimulate red blood cell production within bone marrow. It can also alter a patient’s blood pressure, promote cell survival, and create a neuroprotective effect.
While ARA-290 does not stimulate red blood cell production, it does offer pain-relieving and neuroprotective effects. It also has the potential to stimulate wound repair in patients with chronic diabetes, but this property is still being researched.
ARA-290 is being studied as a potential treatment for systemic lupus erythematosus, as well.
Benefits of ARA-290
The full scope of ARA-290s benefits is still being researched. However, it has the potential to decrease the user’s inflammatory pathways through a process known as paracrine signaling. It has also been linked to reduced HbA1c and improved cholesterol numbers. Studies that have produced these results are still in the trial stages.
Perhaps the most appealing possibility for ARA-290 is that it may have the ability to reduce neuropathic symptoms and stimulate natural wound repair processes.
This peptide serves as an exciting treatment option for patients that are dealing with chronic neuropathic pain and diabetes-related ailments. It can also be safely paired with other peptides like BPC-157, which has healing properties.
Sarcoidosis is a condition characterized by the presence of tiny clusters of inflammatory cells in various parts of the body. Although most commonly observed in the lungs or lymph nodes, sarcoidosis can also affect other organs in the body, including the eyes, skin, and heart[1].
One of the most common clinical manifestations associated with sarcoidosis is a dysfunction of small nerve fibers that occurs in a patchy, non-length-dependent manner, a condition more commonly known as small fiber neuropathy (SFN). Symptoms of SFN include pins-and-needles, tingling, and numbness; in severe cases, SFN symptoms can include short sensations of shock-like or burning pain, allodynia, and loss of cutaneous sensation and autonomic function.
With the specific cause of sarcoidosis still unknown, and considering recent research demonstrating the prevalence of SFN being grossly underestimated and with no known cure for the condition, Heij et al. developed this randomized double-blind pilot study to examine the safety and efficacy of ARA 290 in sarcoidosis patients with symptoms of SFN.
ARA 290 is a peptide that interacts with the innate repair receptor responsible for initiating cytoprotection, anti-inflammation, and healing. Considering that ARA 290 has been shown to reduce allodynia when tested in preclinical neuropathy models, Heij et. al. hypothesized that patients experiencing symptomatic SFN would benefit from treatment with ARA 290.
To test their hypothesis, the authors of this study enrolled 22 patients diagnosed with sarcoidosis and experiencing symptoms of SFN in either a group receiving intravenous dosing of ARA 290 or a placebo three times a week over the course of a four-week period.
At the conclusion of their study, Heij et al. observed that patients tolerated repeated intravenous infusions of ARA 290 without adverse events. The authors also observed a time-dependent, significant difference between ARA 290 and placebo groups. Specifically, ARA 290 appeared to improve autonomic and pain symptoms associated with SFN, including the severity of dry eyes, blurred vision, and muscle cramps and the severity and frequency of chest pain as assessed by the small fiber neuropathy screening list (SFNSL).
The authors concluded that their study was the first study to demonstrate that ARA 290 appears to be safe when administered repeatedly over a four-week period to sarcoidosis patients with symptoms of SFN with no abnormalities or drug-related adverse effects noted during and after dosing. ARA 290 also appeared to improve the severity and frequency of symptoms associated with SFN while also improving the quality of life and pain for these patients.
Heij et al. indicated that the primary limitations of this trial were the small sample size, patient variability of neuropathic involvement, and lack of skin biopsy or sudomotor testing evidence definitively establishing SFN. The study also demonstrated abnormalities in mechanoreception that prevented the observed reduction in the severity of symptoms as assessed by the SFNL from being fully attributed solely to the effects of ARA 290 on small-fiber function.
The observed reduction of SFN-associated symptoms combined with the acceptable safety demonstrated by frequent administrations of ARA 290 encourages a larger study to examine the potential effects of ARA 290 for sarcoidosis patients with symptoms of small fiber neuropathy.
This website and its contents are not intended to treat, cure, diagnose, or prevent any disease. Stemedix, Inc. shall not be held liable for the medical claims made by patient testimonials or videos. They are not to be viewed as a guarantee for each individual. The efficacy for some products presented have not been confirmed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
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