GHK-Cu

Compound identifiers & literature

Public database identifiers and a selection of peer-reviewed publications for GHK-Cu (Copper tripeptide-1), provided so researchers can verify this compound independently. Each entry links to the primary source.

Selected literature

1. [1]
   Pickart L, Margolina A (2018). Regenerative and Protective Actions of the GHK-Cu Peptide in the Light of the New Gene Data International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 19(7):1987.

   Narrative review compiling previously published gene-expression, cell-culture and animal-model reports on the GHK peptide and its copper complex; indexed in PubMed as a Review and containing no new experimental data.

   reviewPMID 29986520DOI
2. [2]
   Pickart L, Vasquez-Soltero JM, Margolina A (2015). GHK Peptide as a Natural Modulator of Multiple Cellular Pathways in Skin Regeneration BioMed Research International, 2015:648108.

   Narrative review of the reported literature on GHK in skin tissue, covering in vitro, animal and cosmetic-study reports of collagen synthesis, metalloproteinase modulation and gene expression; indexed in PubMed as a Review and containing no new experimental data.

   reviewPMID 26236730DOI
3. [3]
   Maquart FX, Pickart L, Laurent M, Gillery P, Monboisse JC, Borel JP (1988). Stimulation of collagen synthesis in fibroblast cultures by the tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+ FEBS Letters, 238(2):343-346.

   Measured collagen synthesis in cultured fibroblasts exposed to GHK-Cu. The authors report stimulation beginning between 10^-12 and 10^-11 M and maximal at 10^-9 M, and state the effect was independent of any change in cell number.

   in vitroPMID 3169264DOI
4. [4]
   Siméon A, Emonard H, Hornebeck W, Maquart FX (2000). The tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+ stimulates matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression by fibroblast cultures Life Sciences, 67(18):2257-2265.

   Measured matrix metalloproteinase-2 in conditioned media of cultured dermal fibroblasts treated with GHK-Cu, reporting increased MMP-2 protein and mRNA alongside increased secretion of the tissue inhibitors TIMP-1 and TIMP-2. The authors report the effect was reproduced by copper ions alone but not by the copper-free GHK peptide.

   in vitroPMID 11045606DOI
5. [5]
   Fu SC, Cheuk YC, Chiu WY, Yung SH, Rolf CG, Chan KM (2015). Tripeptide-copper complex GHK-Cu (II) transiently improved healing outcome in a rat model of ACL reconstruction Journal of Orthopaedic Research, 33(7):1024-1033.

   Seventy-two rats underwent unilateral anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and were randomized to saline or GHK-Cu (0.3 or 3 mg/ml) by weekly intra-articular injection for four weeks beginning at week 2. At 6 weeks the GHK-Cu groups showed a smaller side-to-side knee laxity difference and the 0.3 mg/ml group a higher graft stiffness; no significant difference was found at 12 weeks, and no significant difference in ultimate load, gait parameters or histological scores was found at any timepoint.

   rodentPMID 25731775DOI

These references are provided for scientific context only. They describe published research on this compound and are not evidence of safety or efficacy, not an endorsement of any use, and not medical advice. This product is supplied for laboratory research use only — not for human or animal consumption.