Skin, hair & tanning
GHK-Cu: published research
Also known as Copper tripeptide-1 (glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine copper)
GHK · Cu(II)
A three-amino-acid peptide that occurs naturally in blood plasma and binds copper. Its levels are higher in young people than in older ones, which first drew attention to it. Researchers study how it affects gene activity in skin and connective-tissue cells, collagen production and wound repair.
Evidence at a glance
5 studies 1993–2008
- 1 Animal study
- 3 Cell study
- 1 Review
What researchers look at
- Collagen production
- Skin remodelling
- Wound repair
- Gene expression
What is still unknown
Most findings come from cell and animal studies; controlled human studies are few and mostly use it on the skin.
Animal studies
1- Animal study
In rats with implanted wound chambers, GHK-Cu injections increased connective-tissue accumulation, including collagen and glycosaminoglycans, and raised type I and III collagen mRNA compared with saline, while a control tripeptide had no effect.
Maquart FX, et al. In vivo stimulation of connective tissue accumulation by the tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+ in rat experimental wounds. The Journal of Clinical Investigation. 1993. PMID 8227353
Cell studies
3- Cell study
In cultured normal and irradiated human skin fibroblasts, GHK-Cu shortened population-doubling time, and treated irradiated cells produced more of the growth factors bFGF and VEGF early after exposure.
Pollard JD, et al. Effects of copper tripeptide on the growth and expression of growth factors by normal and irradiated fibroblasts. Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery. 2005. PMID 15655171
- Cell study
In cultured dermal fibroblasts, GHK-Cu increased MMP-2 protein and mRNA levels and the secretion of its inhibitors TIMP-1 and TIMP-2; copper ions alone reproduced the MMP-2 effect, but GHK without copper did not.
Siméon A, et al. The tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+ stimulates matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression by fibroblast cultures. Life Sciences. 2000. PMID 11045606
- Cell study
In cultured rat and human bone-forming (osteoblastic) cells, GHK-Cu increased cell attachment but not cell spreading, and slightly reduced alkaline phosphatase activity and osteocalcin production, markers of the osteoblast phenotype.
Godet D, et al. Effects of the tripeptide glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine copper complex on osteoblastic cell spreading, attachment and phenotype. Cellular and Molecular Biology. 1995. PMID 8747089
Reviews
1- Review
This review summarises reported effects of GHK and GHK-Cu on tissue remodelling, from wound-healing models to cited controlled studies of aged skin reporting improved elasticity and firmness and fewer fine lines and wrinkles.
Pickart L The human tri-peptide GHK and tissue remodeling. Journal of Biomaterials Science. Polymer Edition. 2008. PMID 18644225
Studied together
GHK-Cu + Thymosin β4 (TB-500)
In an open-label study without a control group in people with hair loss, scalp injections of a multi-ingredient formula containing copper tripeptide-1 (GHK-Cu), thymosin beta-4 and growth factors reduced hair shedding.
Kapoor R, Shome D. Intradermal injections of a hair growth factor formulation for enhancement of human hair regrowth - safety and efficacy evaluation in a first-in-man pilot clinical study. Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy. 2018. PMID 29482481
Short summaries of published studies, with links to the original papers. Results in animals or cells may not apply to people. This is not medical advice and not a guide to use.