Cardiogen
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Synthetic tetrapeptide (Ala-Glu-Asp-Arg) bioregulator proposed to support cardiac function via myocyte gene regulation and cardiovascular inflammaging modulation.
Methodological Note: >95% of published research on this peptide originates from the Khavinson bioregulation group (Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology, St. Petersburg). Independent replication by Western laboratories is lacking. All evidence should be interpreted with this single-group limitation in mind.
Quick Facts
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Also Known As | AEDR tetrapeptide, Ala-Glu-Asp-Arg |
| Category | Cardiovascular / Khavinson Bioregulator |
| Sequence | Ala-Glu-Asp-Arg (AEDR, 4 amino acids) |
| Molecular Weight | ~476 Da |
| Molecular Formula | C16H28N6O8 |
| PubChem CID | N/A — research peptide |
| Administration | SubQ |
| Typical Dose Range | 10-20 mcg/day (from Khavinson protocols) |
| Half-Life | Very short (minutes; typical of tetrapeptides) |
| Storage | Lyophilized: -20C long-term; 2-8C short-term. Reconstituted: 2-8C for 2-4 weeks |
| FDA Status | NOT FDA-approved. Approved in Russia as bioregulator; no Western regulatory approval |
| WADA Status | Prohibited under S0 (non-approved substances) |
Mechanism of Action
Cardiogen (Ala-Glu-Asp-Arg) is a synthetic tetrapeptide developed by the Khavinson group, derived from the amino acid analysis of cardiac tissue extracts. It is proposed to regulate gene expression specifically in cardiac myocytes through the standard Khavinson mechanism of chromatin remodeling and direct DNA interaction.
In vitro studies using primary myocardial tissue cultures demonstrated that Cardiogen had a strong stimulating effect on myocardial cell proliferation in tissue from both young and old rats, with more pronounced effects in aged tissue (PMID: 20210190). Immunohistochemical analysis showed decreased p53 protein expression under Cardiogen treatment, suggesting reduced cellular senescence signaling. However, p53 suppression warrants safety consideration given p53's role as a tumor suppressor.
A 2023 narrative review positioned the AEDR tetrapeptide (Cardiogen) as a regulator of molecules involved in inflammaging and the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) of cardiovascular system cells (PMID: 36611900). The review proposed that Cardiogen may counteract age-related cardiovascular decline by modulating chronic low-grade inflammation.
Cardiogen also showed tumor-modifying effects on M-1 sarcoma in mice (PMID: 20396706), further complicating the tissue-specificity narrative and raising questions about the specificity of its mechanisms.
Key Research Areas
- Myocardial proliferation — Stimulation of myocardial cell growth in aged tissue cultures
- Senescence modulation — p53 suppression and anti-senescence effects in cardiac cells
- Inflammaging — Proposed modulation of SASP in cardiovascular system cells
- Tumor modification — Effects on M-1 sarcoma growth in mice
Evidence Level Summary
| Evidence Type | Count | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Human RCTs | 0 | No randomized controlled trials |
| Human observational | 0 | No human clinical studies |
| Animal in vivo | 1 | Tumor-modifying effect in mice |
| In vitro | 2 | Myocardial tissue culture; THP-1 cell study |
| Systematic reviews | 1 | Khavinson self-review (2021) |
| Narrative reviews | 1 | SASP/inflammaging review (2023) |
Clinical Applications
- Anti-Aging — Proposed cardiovascular aging intervention (preclinical only)
Protocols Using This Peptide
- No established clinical protocols. Used in Khavinson bioregulation research protocols only.
Ageless Peps Products
- APWS-Cardiogen-Vial — Cardiogen Vial, wholesale only
Dosing Reference
Research Dosing Ranges (from literature)
| Route | Dose Range | Frequency | Duration | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SubQ | 10-20 mcg | Daily | 10-20 days | Khavinson protocols |
Cycling
Khavinson protocols typically recommend 10-20 day treatment courses with 1-3 month intervals. No independent validation exists.
Contraindications & Safety
- Contraindications: Unknown — no systematic safety studies. The p53 suppression observed in vitro is a theoretical concern for oncogenic risk
- Common side effects: Unknown — no human clinical data
- Drug interactions: Unknown — no interaction studies. Theoretical caution with cardioactive medications
- Pregnancy/nursing: Contraindicated (no safety data)
- Special populations: No data available. Patients with cardiac conditions should not substitute this for evidence-based cardiac therapies
Synergistic Combinations
Per Khavinson protocols (unvalidated):
- Vilon + Cardiogen — Immune + cardiac support
- Cortagen + Cardiogen — Neuroprotective + cardioprotective
Related Research
| PMID | Title | Year | Study Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20210190 | Cardiogen Effect on Myocardial Tissue Culture | 2009 | In vitro |
| 34834147 | Peptide Regulation of Gene Expression: A Systematic Review | 2021 | Systematic Review |
| 35408963 | Peptides Regulating Proliferative Activity in THP-1 Cell Line | 2022 | In vitro |
| 36611900 | SASP of Cardiovascular Cells and Inflammaging: Peptide Regulation | 2023 | Narrative Review |
References
- PMID 20210190 — Myocardial tissue culture from young and old rats
- PMID 20396706 — Tumor-modifying effect on M-1 sarcoma
- PMID 36611900 — SASP and inflammaging in cardiovascular cells
- PMID 34834147 — Systematic review of peptide gene regulation
Related
#peptide #cardiovascular #khavinson-bioregulator #subq