GHK-Cu (glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine : copper(II)) is a naturally occurring tripeptide first isolated from human plasma by Loren Pickart in 1973. Its plasma concentration declines significantly with age — from ~200 ng/mL at age 20 to ~80 ng/mL by age 60 — correlating with reduced regenerative capacity and skin quality in aging tissue.
Collagen and ECM Synthesis
GHK-Cu stimulates production of collagen types I, III, and IV, along with elastin and proteoglycans. Zhou et al. (2017) studied GHK and TGF-β1/Smad signaling in mice with bleomycin-induced lung injury.[3]
Gene Expression Modulation
A 2012 microarray analysis found GHK-Cu modulates over 4,000 human genes, with upregulation of tissue remodeling and anti-inflammatory genes, and downregulation of genes associated with cancer aggression, inflammation, and neurodegeneration.
Anti-Inflammatory Mechanism: NF-κB Suppression
GHK-Cu suppresses the NF-κB pathway, reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 without immunosuppression — mechanistically distinct from corticosteroids.
Tissue-Repair Research
GHK-Cu attracts macrophages and mast cells, promotes nerve outgrowth, stimulates angiogenesis, and activates MMPs to debride wound beds while TIMP-2 regulates that activity. This coordinated matrix remodeling — promoting breakdown of damaged tissue while driving new ECM synthesis — is central to its tissue-repair profile.
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GHK-Cu — View Product Page →References
- Pickart L, Margolina A. (2018). Regenerative and Protective Actions of the GHK-Cu Peptide. Int J Mol Sci, 19(7), 1987.
- Pickart L. (2008). The human tri-peptide GHK and tissue remodeling. J Biomater Sci Polym Ed, 19(8), 969–988.
- Zhou XM, Wang GL, Wang XB, et al. (2017). GHK Peptide Inhibits Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis in Mice by Suppressing TGFβ1/Smad-Mediated Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition. Front Pharmacol, 8, 904. PMID: 29311918. DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2017.00904.
This article summarizes publicly available research for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice, a therapeutic claim, or a recommendation for human use. Products referenced are sold for laboratory research use only.