GHK-Cu (Copper Peptide): Skin Biology Research Roundup

GHK-Cu (Copper Peptide): Skin Biology Research Roundup

GHK-Cu (Glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu²⁺) is a naturally occurring tripeptide-copper complex that has been studied extensively in the context of skin biology, wound healing, and anti-aging research.

Discovery and Background

GHK was first identified in human plasma by Loren Pickart in the 1970s. Subsequent research demonstrated that its copper complex (GHK-Cu) has significantly enhanced biological activity, stimulating a broad range of biological processes in skin cells.

Key Research Areas

• Collagen synthesis: Multiple studies have demonstrated GHK-Cu's ability to stimulate collagen, elastin, and glycosaminoglycan synthesis in skin fibroblasts
• Wound healing: GHK-Cu has been shown to accelerate wound contraction and re-epithelialisation in multiple animal models
• Anti-inflammatory effects: GHK-Cu modulates inflammatory cytokine signalling through multiple pathways
• Gene expression: Loren Pickart's research has demonstrated that GHK-Cu can modulate the expression of over 4,000 human genes