GHK-Cu (Copper) (50mg)

GHK-Cu (Copper) Peptide

GHK-Cu is a naturally occurring copper-binding peptide composed of 3 amino acids, i.e. glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine.⁽¹⁾ -Cu refers to the chemical addition of copper. GHK-Cu (Copper) is a small tripeptide found in plasma and reportedly releases at the time of injury. The concentration of GHK-Cu declines with age. At 20 years, the average concentration of GHK-Cu of 200 ng/mL declines to 80 ng/mL by 60 years.⁽¹⁾

Studies⁽⁴⁾ have suggested when the plasma GHK peptide is added to the cell culture in nanomolar amounts; the peptide has the potential to induce a wide range of responses from growth stimulation to toxic cell differentiation. During the isolation of the peptide, researchers suggested that it exhibited potential chelating properties and might co-isolate with almost the same amount of copper ions and a fifth of the amount of iron found in the cells. When the peptide was incubated in the isolated cells as a bound complex with copper and iron molecules, maximal potential was reported.

Overview

Studies⁽⁵⁾ have suggested that the peptide exhibits potential in gene expression and may to reset elements of the genome. By this potential mechanism, GHK-Cu peptide may restore impaired cells, including carcinogenic cells and COPD cells. GHK-Cu peptide has been researched for its potential across a variety of functions⁽¹⁾ including that it may tighten and reverse the thinning of aging skin structure, supporting the extracellular matrix, that it may restore the skin barrier and moderate texture, hyperpigmentation and lesions, may support tissue repair and mitigate inflammation, may stimulate increasing hair follicle size, may exert antioxidant properties and, finally, may exhibit gene restructuring potential.
 

Research and Clinical Studies

GHK Peptide Initial Research

This 1980s study⁽⁶⁾ suggested the biological potential of the naturally occurring peptide in tissue repair. GHK peptide may host copper (II) ions due to possible copper affinity and may thereby stimulate the synthesis of collagen and increase the accumulation of total proteins and DNA at the injury site. Dermal wounded rats were used for this study. At the time of injury, the release of GHK peptide was induced. ‘Emergency response molecules’ were released from the matrix at the site of injury. Once released, GHK appeared to bind with Cu ions found in the blood and then stimulate the synthesis of decorin protein. Decorin protein is responsible for the synthesis of collagen and regulation of wound healing and anti-tumor defense mechanism. Further studies in the 2000s,⁽⁷⁾ suggested that the GHK-Cu peptide hosts the potential to not only stimulate the collagen synthesis but also stimulate the production of tissue inhibitors, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2.

GHK Peptide and Tissue Repair

In this study,⁽⁸⁾ the main aim was to understand the action of the GHK-Cu peptide complex when applied to the open wounds in comparison to zinc oxide. 18 New Zealand white rabbits were used for this study, divided into three groups – one group was presented with GHK-Cu, second group with zinc oxide and third group with placebo. Woulds were induced on each rabbit and the rabbits were presented with the respective compounds for 21 consecutive days. After 21 days, it was suggested by the researchers that the group delivered with the GHK-Cu peptide complex appeared to exhibit increased healing compared to the group given zinc oxide or placebo.

In this study,⁽⁹⁾ the main aim was to understand the action of the GHK-Cu peptide complex as compared to helium neon laser. Laser applications were measured at 1 J cm2 and 3 J cm2. 24 New Zealand white rabbits were used for this study, divided into three groups and presented with respective concentrations of the GHK-Cu peptide complex and helium neon laser application. Experimental wounds were created on all the rabbits and all rabbits were studied for 28 consecutive days with the respective compounds. After the study, it was suggested by the researchers that rabbits studied with GHK-Cu peptide and higher concentration of the laser application appeared more receptive toward wound healing than the other group. The rabbits presented with GHK-Cu peptide exhibited an apparent decline in neutrophil counts and increase in neovascularization.

GHK Peptide and Metastasis

In this 1983 study,⁽¹⁾ the actions of the mixture of GHK-Cu complex and ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) on the growth of the sarcoma (tumor) cells was observed. 180 mice with cancerous growths were delivered with this mixture. Researchers suggested the mixture had the potential to induce a decline in the growth of carcinogenic cells in the subject mice. It was later reported by the researchers that GHK-Cu peptide complex exhibited some potential in increasing the expression of caspase and the associated genes, as well as gene expression associated with DNA repair.

GHK Peptide and Ulcers

This clinical study⁽¹⁰⁾ was carried out in diabetic subjects with neuropathic ulcers. All subjects were enrolled in a standard wound care protocol, where only the subjects with sharp ulcer wound or debridement were entered into this randomized, placebo controlled clinical trial. The study was carried out using GHK-Cu peptide complex gel. All subjects were divided into different groups, where one group was presented with the peptide gel, whereas others were given standard care with a placebo application. Following the study, researchers suggested that the subjects given the gel exhibited apparently elevated healing at 98%+. The gel complex appeared to have the potential to induce closure of 98.5% of plantar ulcers whereas the control only reportedly induced 60.8% of ulcer healing.

GHK Peptide and Behavioral Properties

In this study,⁽¹⁾ GHK-Cu was delivered to mice to measure pain mitigation. Mice were placed on a moderately hot plate. Due to heat and the pain, it would usually take longer for mice to lick their paws; however, upon delivery the peptide, the time taken to lick their paws reduced compared to control environments. Researchers suggested the mice got ‘comfortable’ and their pain was eased faster with the presence of GHK-Cu.

In this study,⁽¹¹⁾ male rats were deposited into a maze, which was intended to induce anxiety and cause behavioral changes. If anxious, rats were observed to restrict arm movement, keeping "close arms"; whereas "open arm" behavior was shown in rats with lessened levels of anxiety. As a part of the study, once the peptide was delivered, the time spent by the rats in "open arms" state in the maze was monitored. After the study, it was reported by the researchers that the peptide exhibited some potential in increasing "open arms" states in the subjects.

In an additional study,⁽¹²⁾ two rats were placed in a small cage and were then given minor electric shocks. As a result of these shocks, the rat would become agitated and attack the second rat. Twelve minutes before this experiment, GHK-Cu peptide was delivered to both rats. It was noted by the researchers that the number of attacks, after the electric shocks, reduced by 5 times than usual.

GHK-Cu peptide is available for research and laboratory purposes only. Please review and adhere to our Terms and Conditions before ordering.

References:

1. Pickart, Loren, and Anna Margolina. “Regenerative and Protective Actions of the GHK-Cu Peptide in the Light of the New Gene Data.” International journal of molecular sciences vol. 19,7 1987. 7 Jul. 2018, doi:10.3390/ijms19071987. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6073405/
2. Pickart L, Freedman JH, Loker WJ, Peisach J, Perkins CM, Stenkamp RE, Weinstein B. Growth-modulating plasma tripeptide may function by facilitating copper uptake into cells. Nature. 1980 Dec 25;288(5792):715-7. doi: 10.1038/288715a0. PMID: 7453802. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7453802/
3. L.O. Pilgeram, L.R. Pickart, Control of fibrinogen biosynthesis: The role of free fatty acid, Journal of Atherosclerosis Research, Volume 8, Issue 1, 1968, Pages 155-166, ISSN 0368-1319, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0368-1319(68)80089-4
4. Pickart L, Freedman JH, Loker WJ, Peisach J, Perkins CM, Stenkamp RE, Weinstein B. Growth-modulating plasma tripeptide may function by facilitating copper uptake into cells. Nature. 1980 Dec 25;288(5792):715-7. doi: 10.1038/288715a0. PMID: 7453802. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7453802/
5. Pickart L, Vasquez-Soltero JM, Margolina A. GHK and DNA: resetting the human genome to health. Biomed Res Int. 2014;2014:151479. doi: 10.1155/2014/151479. Epub 2014 Sep 11. PMID: 25302294; PMCID: PMC4180391. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25302294/
6. Maquart FX, Pickart L, Laurent M, Gillery P, Monboisse JC, Borel JP. Stimulation of collagen synthesis in fibroblast cultures by the tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+. FEBS Lett. 1988 Oct 10;238(2):343-6. doi: 10.1016/0014-5793(88)80509-x. PMID: 3169264. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3169264/
7. Siméon A, Emonard H, Hornebeck W, Maquart FX. The tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+ stimulates matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression by fibroblast cultures. Life Sci. 2000 Sep 22;67(18):2257-65. doi: 10.1016/s0024-3205(00)00803-1. PMID: 11045606. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11045606/
8. Cangul IT, Gul NY, Topal A, Yilmaz R. Evaluation of the effects of topical tripeptide-copper complex and zinc oxide on open-wound healing in rabbits. Vet Dermatol. 2006 Dec;17(6):417-23. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-3164.2006.00551.x. PMID: 17083573. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17083573/
9. Gul NY, Topal A, Cangul IT, Yanik K. The effects of topical tripeptide copper complex and helium-neon laser on wound healing in rabbits. Vet Dermatol. 2008 Feb;19(1):7-14. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-3164.2007.00647.x. PMID: 18177285. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18177285/
10. Mulder GD, Patt LM, Sanders L, Rosenstock J, Altman MI, Hanley ME, Duncan GW. Enhanced healing of ulcers in patients with diabetes by topical treatment with glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine copper. Wound Repair Regen. 1994 Oct;2(4):259-69. doi: 10.1046/j.1524-475X.1994.20406.x. PMID: 17147644. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17147644/
11. Bobyntsev II, Chernysheva OI, Dolgintsev ME, Smakhtin MY, Belykh AE. Anxiolytic effects of Gly-His-Lys peptide and its analogs. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2015 Apr;158(6):726-8. doi: 10.1007/s10517-015-2847-3. Epub 2015 Apr 23. PMID: 25900608. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25900608/
12. Sever'yanova LА, Dolgintsev ME. Effects of Tripeptide Gly-His-Lys in Pain-Induced Aggressive-Defensive Behavior in Rats. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2017 Dec;164(2):140-143. doi: 10.1007/s10517-017-3943-3. Epub 2017 Nov 27. PMID: 29181666. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29181666/