The Development Process of Copper Peptides

GHK is a tripeptide first isolated from human plasma by Pickart et al. in 1973. It was discovered in the study of active substances that have the same effect on aging and young tissues. Subsequent research has shown that the sequence of this tripeptide is glycil-L-histyl-L-lysine, and it has a strong affinity for copper ions, forming GHK Cu complexes. Research has shown that GHK functions in the form of a complex with copper ions.
Pickart et al. have demonstrated that GHK Cu accelerates wound healing and contraction, enhances the body's ability to receive transplanted skin, and has anti-inflammatory properties. Bacteria on wounds secrete proteases to break down GHK and other healing promoting cytokines. GHK itself is a component of a large group of small peptide mixtures produced during protein breakdown. When copper ions were added to the small peptide mixture, we found that the small peptide mixture had good healing promoting activity, and such peptides would not be further decomposed, showing resistance to enzymes.
The biggest characteristic of GHK is the formation of complexes with Cu ions, which is very important because there are many important enzymes in the human body and skin that require Cu ions. These enzymes play a role in connective tissue formation, antioxidant defense, and cellular respiration. Cu ions also play a signaling role and can affect cell behavior and metabolism. For example, a sufficient amount of Cu ions is a signal for stem cell proliferation and tissue repair. GHK also helps to reduce the concentration of free state Cu ions and prevent oxidative damage
Subsequent studies by Borel and Maquart et al demonstrated that GHKCu can stimulate and disrupt the synthesis of collagen and glycosaminoglycans at very low concentrations (1-10 nanomolar).
In 2001, McCormack et al. demonstrated that fibroblasts with damaged DNA in patients can regain their regenerative ability after receiving radiotherapy and chemotherapy. GHK can also attract immune cells and endothelial cells to migrate towards the wound site.
The ability of GHK Cu to promote wound healing has been demonstrated through numerous animal experiments. In rabbit experiments, GHK Cu can accelerate wound healing and promote angiogenesis, increasing the levels of antioxidant enzymes in the blood. This molecule also induces wound healing in rats, mice, and pigs. In the ischemic wound of diabetes rats, it can promote healing, reduce TNF alpha level and promote collagen synthesis. It can also promote the healing of dog foot pad wounds. These literature on skin regeneration have expanded the application of GHK in the beauty industry.
In recent years, GHK Cu has been widely promoted as a therapeutic ingredient in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, skin inflammation, metabolic colon cancer, and other diseases. According to literature, it can upregulate or downregulate nearly 4000 human genes, and it can restore DNA to a healthier state. These studies provide new ideas for skin remodeling.
Under physiological conditions, GHK Cu complexes can form binary or ternary structures, including the Cu binding region of histidine and human serum albumin. They also found that Cu ions can be easily obtained and bound to the copper transport sites of human serum albumin. It has been proven that the redox properties of Cu ions bound to GHK tripeptides are silent, making Cu ions entering the cell safe for the cell.
The advantage of CHK Cu over CHK is that there are many important enzymes in the human body and skin that require Cu ions, which play a role in connective tissue formation, antioxidant defense, and cellular respiration. Cu ions also play a signaling role and can affect cell behavior and metabolism. For example, a sufficient amount of Cu ions is a signal for stem cell proliferation and tissue repair. GHK also helps to reduce the concentration of free state Cu ions and prevent oxidative damage.