Possibilities for Cytoprotective Liver Therapy, Stable Gastric Pentadecapeptide BPC 157, and Standard Agents-A Narrative Review.
- 1Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
- 2Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
- 3Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
Abstract
Cytoprotection provides a conceptual framework for the preservation and restoration of tissue integrity under conditions of noxious injury. In liver disease, however, effective protection may require more than direct limitation of hepatocellular damage, encompassing endothelial function, microcirculation, vascular homeostasis, oxidative stress, inflammation, fibrosis, and portal hemodynamics. This review examines possibilities for cytoprotective liver therapy, with particular emphasis on stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 and comparison with established or experimentally investigated agents, including N-acetylcysteine, ursodeoxycholic acid, corticosteroids, resveratrol, L-arginine, curcumin, sildenafil, VEGF-related approaches, stem cell therapies, melatonin, simvastatin, prostacyclin analogues, and coenzyme Q10. Evidence is considered across representative experimental models of acetaminophen and carbon tetrachloride hepatotoxicity, bile duct ligation, and alcohol-induced liver injury. The diversity of effective agents indicates that liver injury involves multiple interconnected pathological mechanisms and that preservation of hepatocellular integrity may be achieved through different pharmacological pathways. BPC 157 is distinguished by evidence of beneficial effects across these major models and additional vascular and occlusion/occlusion-like syndromes. In particular, reported findings indicate prevention and reversal of experimentally induced portal hypertension, including prehepatic, intrahepatic, and posthepatic disturbances, together with attenuation of hepatic congestion, thrombosis, oxidative injury, and associated multiorgan dysfunction. These findings support the concept that cytoprotection may extend from hepatoprotection to restoration of vascular and tissue homeostasis. Collectively, the available preclinical evidence supports further investigation of integrated cytoprotective strategies for liver injury. Nevertheless, experimental evidence, however extensive, does not establish clinical efficacy, and appropriately designed clinical studies remain necessary to determine therapeutic applicability in human liver disease.
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BibTeX
@article{sever2026possibilities,
title = {{Possibilities for Cytoprotective Liver Therapy, Stable Gastric Pentadecapeptide BPC 157, and Standard Agents-A Narrative Review.}},
author = {Marko Sever and Anita Zenko Sever and Robert Klicek and Lucija Kralj and Marta Popovic Dolic and Kresimir Luetic and Dinko Bekic and Zeljka Belosic Halle and Mario Sucic and Suncana Sikiric and Lidija Beketic Oreskovic and Antun Bacic and Sanja Strbe and Eva Staresinic and Sven Seiwerth and Predrag Sikiric and Alenka Boban Blagaic and Ivan Dobric and Mario Staresinic and Anita Skrtic},
journal = {Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/ph19101559},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42943255},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Possibilities for Cytoprotective Liver Therapy, Stable Gastric Pentadecapeptide BPC 157, and Standard Agents-A Narrative Review.
AU - Marko Sever
AU - Anita Zenko Sever
AU - Robert Klicek
AU - Lucija Kralj
AU - Marta Popovic Dolic
AU - Kresimir Luetic
AU - Dinko Bekic
AU - Zeljka Belosic Halle
AU - Mario Sucic
AU - Suncana Sikiric
AU - Lidija Beketic Oreskovic
AU - Antun Bacic
AU - Sanja Strbe
AU - Eva Staresinic
AU - Sven Seiwerth
AU - Predrag Sikiric
AU - Alenka Boban Blagaic
AU - Ivan Dobric
AU - Mario Staresinic
AU - Anita Skrtic
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
DO - 10.3390/ph19101559
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42943255
AB - Cytoprotection provides a conceptual framework for the preservation and restoration of tissue integrity under conditions of noxious injury. In liver disease, however, effective protection may require more than direct limitation of hepatocellular damage, encompassing endothelial function, microcirculation, vascular homeostasis, oxidative stress, inflammation, fibrosis, and portal hemodynamics. This review examines possibilities for cytoprotective liver therapy, with particular emphasis on stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 and comparison with established or experimentally investigated agents, including N-acetylcysteine, ursodeoxycholic acid, corticosteroids, resveratrol, L-arginine, curcumin, sildenafil, VEGF-related approaches, stem cell therapies, melatonin, simvastatin, prostacyclin analogues, and coenzyme Q10. Evidence is considered across representative experimental models of acetaminophen and carbon tetrachloride hepatotoxicity, bile duct ligation, and alcohol-induced liver injury. The diversity of effective agents indicates that liver injury involves multiple interconnected pathological mechanisms and that preservation of hepatocellular integrity may be achieved through different pharmacological pathways. BPC 157 is distinguished by evidence of beneficial effects across these major models and additional vascular and occlusion/occlusion-like syndromes. In particular, reported findings indicate prevention and reversal of experimentally induced portal hypertension, including prehepatic, intrahepatic, and posthepatic disturbances, together with attenuation of hepatic congestion, thrombosis, oxidative injury, and associated multiorgan dysfunction. These findings support the concept that cytoprotection may extend from hepatoprotection to restoration of vascular and tissue homeostasis. Collectively, the available preclinical evidence supports further investigation of integrated cytoprotective strategies for liver injury. Nevertheless, experimental evidence, however extensive, does not establish clinical efficacy, and appropriately designed clinical studies remain necessary to determine therapeutic applicability in human liver disease.
SN - 1424-8247
ER -