GHK-Cu 50 mg

GHK-Cu 50 mg research-grade lyophilized peptide powder in a glass vial. This copper-peptide complex (glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu²⁺) is studied in experimental models of tissue repair, extracellular matrix modulation and neuroregenerative signaling.

Research Overview

GHK-Cu is a naturally occurring copper-peptide complex of the tripeptide glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine and copper(II). In experimental research it is used as a tool compound to investigate extracellular matrix modulation, collagen and elastin synthesis, angiogenesis, and gene expression changes in in vitro and in vivo tissue-repair models.

Primary Research Areas

• Tissue repair & wound healing: Models where GHK-Cu stimulates fibroblasts, collagen and glycosaminoglycan synthesis, and angiogenesis [1,2,4].
• Extracellular matrix modulation: Research on how GHK-Cu up-regulates collagen I/III, elastin and proteoglycans in dermal and connective-tissue models [2,3].
• Angiogenesis & neurovascular signalling: Studies showing GHK-Cu promotes nerve and blood-vessel growth in experimental settings [4].
• Skin renewal: in three-dimensional skin models GHK-Cu made the cells of the basal layer divide more and raised p63 and integrins, the markers of the cells that keep skin renewing itself. This is the mechanism behind its use in skin aging [7].
• Inflammation and oxidative damage: in mice with lung injury GHK-Cu lowered TNF-α and IL-6, reduced reactive oxygen species and raised SOD, one of the body’s own antioxidant enzymes. The same anti-inflammatory action is what is invoked for tissue recovery in general [6].
• Genes that switch tissue back to repair: a search of a large drug-gene database found GHK able to reverse the gene pattern of lung destruction in emphysema, and in the lab GHK restored the ability of fibroblasts from these patients to contract and remodel collagen. It suggests that GHK acts on repair as a whole program rather than on a single pathway [5].
• Wounds that heal badly: in diabetic rats, GHK carried on a collagen dressing closed wounds faster, with more collagen in the new tissue and better antioxidant levels in the skin. Relevant to slow-healing wounds [8].

References

1. Maquart FX, Pickart L, Laurent M, et al. Stimulation of collagen synthesis in fibroblast cultures by the tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+. FEBS Lett. 1988;238(2):343-6. PMID 3169264. doi:10.1016/0014-5793(88)80509-x
2. Maquart FX, Bellon G, Chaqour B, et al. In vivo stimulation of connective tissue accumulation by the tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+ in rat experimental wounds. J Clin Invest. 1993;92(5):2368-76. PMID 8227353. doi:10.1172/JCI116842
3. Siméon A, Wegrowski Y, Bontemps Y, et al. Expression of glycosaminoglycans and small proteoglycans in wounds: modulation by the tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu(2+). J Invest Dermatol. 2000;115(6):962-8. PMID 11121126. doi:10.1046/j.1523-1747.2000.00166.x
4. Wang X, Liu B, Xu Q, et al. GHK-Cu-liposomes accelerate scald wound healing in mice by promoting cell proliferation and angiogenesis. Wound Repair Regen. 2017;25(2):270-278. PMID 28370978. doi:10.1111/wrr.12520
5. Campbell JD, McDonough JE, Zeskind JE, et al. A gene expression signature of emphysema-related lung destruction and its reversal by the tripeptide GHK. Genome Med. 2012;4(8):67. PMID 22937864. doi:10.1186/gm367
6. Park JR, Lee H, Kim SI, et al. The tri-peptide GHK-Cu complex ameliorates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury in mice. Oncotarget. 2016;7(36):58405-58417. PMID 27517151. doi:10.18632/oncotarget.11168
7. Kang YA, Choi HR, Na JI, et al. Copper-GHK increases integrin expression and p63 positivity by keratinocytes. Arch Dermatol Res. 2009;301(4):301-6. PMID 19319546. doi:10.1007/s00403-009-0942-x
8. Arul V, Kartha R, Jayakumar R. A therapeutic approach for diabetic wound healing using biotinylated GHK incorporated collagen matrices. Life Sci. 2007;80(4):275-84. PMID 17049946. doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2006.09.018