Also known as: Copper tripeptide-1
GHK-Cu is the copper complex of glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine, a tripeptide found naturally in human plasma, saliva and urine. Research includes rodent, cell and skin-permeation studies plus several reviews.
Established: GHK binds copper(II) ions, and the copper complex is the form most often studied [5]. Proposed: in mouse lung and macrophage studies, researchers linked GHK-Cu to lower NF-κB p65 and p38 MAPK signaling and higher superoxide dismutase activity [1]. Proposed: in muscle and colitis models, researchers reported higher SIRT1 levels, with downstream changes in FoxO3a, Nrf2 and PGC-1α in muscle [3] and lower phosphorylated STAT3 in colon tissue [2]; SIRT1 binding was predicted by docking rather than shown directly.
| Study | Model | Reported result | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| GHK-Cu in an LPS lung-injury model [1] | Mouse LPS lung-injury model in mice, plus LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages | Researchers measured lower ROS, TNF-α and IL-6, higher SOD activity, reduced NF-κB p65 and p38 MAPK activation, and less lung inflammatory-cell infiltration. | Peer-reviewed Oncotarget 2016 |
| GHK-Cu in a DSS colitis model [2] | Mouse Colitis model (DSS), BALB/c mice, n=8 per group; plus macrophage and colonic epithelial cell co-culture | Researchers measured less weight loss and colon shortening, lower IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α, restored ZO-1 and occludin, higher SIRT1 and lower p-STAT3. | Peer-reviewed Frontiers in Pharmacology 2025 |
| GHK-Cu in a smoke-exposure muscle model [3] | Mouse Cigarette-smoke exposure model in mice; C2C12 myotubes exposed to smoke extract | In mice, grip strength rose from about 176 g to 258-339 g and fiber area increased; myotubes showed lower MuRF1 and atrogin-1. | Peer-reviewed J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 2023 |
| Plasma GHK levels in adults [3] | Human Observational: 20 adults (9 patients, 11 age-matched controls); plasma GHK measured by HPLC | Design: cross-sectional measurement of circulating GHK and its correlation with muscle area. No GHK-Cu was given. Published. | Peer-reviewed J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 2023 |
| Topical GHK skin-delivery review [4] | Review Review of lab skin-permeation studies (human skin and synthetic membranes in diffusion cells) | Summarized studies reporting very low GHK-Cu permeation through intact epidermis (0.006% of applied copper crossed epidermis) and higher permeation after microneedle pretreatment. | Peer-reviewed BioImpacts 2025 |
| GHK-Cu, copper and antioxidant genes [5] | Review Review of copper regulation, SOD-mimetic activity of GHK analogs, and gene-expression data | Reported relative SOD-mimetic activity of GHK:Cu and analogs, and gene-expression shifts in antioxidant-related genes. | Peer-reviewed Cosmetics 2015 |
Human trials are listed for research context only; outcomes are reported in the linked publications. Animal and lab results do not establish effects in humans.
PureLab supplies GHK-Cu for laboratory research. Lot-specific certificates of analysis are posted on the product page as they are issued.
View research-grade GHK-Cu