GHK-Cu (acetate) (Synonyms: Gly-His-Lys-Cu(II))

GHK-Cu is a complex of the tripeptide Gly-His-Lys and a copper(II) ion that has wound healing and anti-inflammatory activities.1,2,3 It increases proliferation and the levels of collagen and secreted pro-matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) in isolated human fibroblasts when used at a concentration of 1 nM.2,4,1 GHK-Cu (2 mg) increases levels of collagen and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and the expression of decorin in the wound tissue of rats.5 It decreases LPS-induced increases in the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), IL-6, and TNF-α in RAW 264.7 cells when used at a concentration of 10 μM.3 GHK-Cu (10 μg/g) prevents LPS-induced decreases in lung superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and glutathione (GSH) levels and reduces LPS-induced increases in the number of cells and the level of total protein in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in a mouse model of acute lung injury.

|1. SimÉon, A., Emonard, H., Hornebeck, W., et al. The tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+ stimulates matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression by fibroblast cultures. Life Sci. 67(18), 2257-2265 (2000).|2. Maquart, F.-X., Pickart, L., Laurent, M., et al. Stimulation of collagen synthesis in fibroblast cultures by the tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+. FEBS Lett. 238(2), 343-346 (1988).|3. Park, J.-R., Lee, H., Kim, S.-I., et al. The tri-peptide GHK-Cu complex ameliorates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury in mice. Oncotarget 7(36), 58405-58417 (2016).|4. Pollard, J.D., Quan, S., Kang, T., et al. Effects of copper tripeptide on the growth and expression of growth factors by normal and irradiated fibroblasts. Arch. Facial Plast. Surg. 7(1), 27-31 (2005).|5. SimÉon, A., Wegrowski, Y., Bontemps, Y., et al. Expression of glycosaminoglycans and small proteoglycans in wounds: Modulation by the tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+. J. Invest. Dermatol. 115(6), 962-968 (2000).