What it is
GHK-Cu is the copper complex of the tripeptide glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine, a naturally occurring sequence found in human plasma, saliva and urine. Its plasma level declines with age, which is one reason it is widely studied in skin and tissue-remodelling research.
Mechanism
GHK binds copper(II) with high affinity and delivers it to cells. In vitro, the complex modulates the expression of a large number of genes linked to tissue remodelling: collagen and elastin synthesis, glycosaminoglycan production, matrix metalloproteinase balance and antioxidant enzymes. It also shows chemotactic activity for fibroblasts and immune cells in wound models.
Research areas
- Skin ageing, collagen and elastin synthesis
- Wound healing and tissue remodelling
- Hair follicle biology
- Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant pathways
- Gene-expression studies
Safety and metabolism
GHK-Cu is an endogenous complex with a long record of use in topical cosmetic research. Copper content should be considered when comparing to copper-free GHK. Solutions are blue; the colour comes from the copper complex, not from degradation.
Why this amount
50 mg is the standard research amount for a multi-week series and matches the amount used in the Glow stack.
