Cardiogen

Overview

Cardiogen is a synthetic tetrapeptide (Ala-Glu-Asp-Arg / AEDR) from the Khavinson bioregulator series, studied in Russian preclinical models for potential effects on cardiac-tissue gene expression and cardiomyocyte structural proteins. Not FDA-approved; no Western clinical trials have been performed, and all published evidence originates from a single research group.

Mechanism of Action

Proposed mechanism per the Khavinson model: the tetrapeptide penetrates cells, enters the nucleus, and modulates expression of cytoskeletal and nuclear-matrix proteins (actin, tubulin, vimentin, lamin A/C) in cardiomyocytes and fibroblasts. Receptor-level mechanism and downstream cardioprotective pathways remain hypothetical.

Research Summary

Evidence is limited to preclinical work from the Khavinson group at the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology. Khavinson et al. (Bull Exp Biol Med, 2012; PMID 22977870) reported that H-Ala-Glu-Asp-Arg-OH increased expression of cytoskeletal and nuclear-matrix proteins in cultured mouse embryonic fibroblasts. There are no independently replicated studies, no randomized controlled trials, and no peer-reviewed evidence of clinical cardioprotective efficacy in humans.

Dosing Information

Reported Side Effects

• Limited human safety data
• Mild injection site reactions (preclinical)
• No significant adverse effects in published preclinical studies
• Theoretical risk of fibroblast overstimulation at high doses

Research References

• Tetrapeptide H-Ala-Glu-Asp-Arg-OH stimulates expression of cytoskeletal and nuclear matrix proteins (2012)