GHK-Cu (Copper Peptide)

What Is GHK-Cu ?

GHK-Cu is a natural compound found in human blood, urine, and saliva. Animal studies show it can speed up wound recovery, strengthen the immune system, and boost skin condition by encouraging collagen production, fibroblast activity, and new blood vessel formation. Some evidence suggests it serves as a signal created after injuries to tissues. It also fights damage from free radicals, making it a strong antioxidant.

Sequence: Gly-His-Lys.Cu.xHAc
Molecular Formula: C14H23CuN6O4
Molecular Weight: 401.91 g/mol
PubChem CID: 73587
CAS Number: 89030-95-5

Skin Healing
As a normal part of human blood, GHK-Cu plays a key role in how skin renews itself. Lab tests on skin samples reveal that GHK boosts both the creation and breakdown of collagen, along with other building blocks like glycosaminoglycans and elements such as proteoglycans and chondroitin sulfate. Much of this happens because GHK-Cu attracts helpful cells like fibroblasts, immune fighters, and those that line blood vessels. It pulls them to hurt areas and seems to guide their work in fixing the damage.
You’ll often find GHK-Cu in products for skin care and beauty. It helps make skin more elastic, while also tightening and strengthening it. Studies indicate it can lessen harm from the sun, fade dark spots, and smooth out wrinkles and fine lines. By adjusting how collagen forms, GHK-Cu reduces scar visibility, stops overly thick healing, evens out rough patches, and restores older skin’s framework. Part of this comes from raising levels of a growth factor called transforming growth factor-beta. The compound likely acts through various chemical paths and even influences gene activity.
In mouse tests, GHK-Cu sped up burn healing by up to a third. Beyond drawing in immune and repair cells, it also promotes new blood vessels. Burns often delay vessel regrowth because of the sealing heat effect, so this discovery could lead to better treatments in burn care and faster overall mending.
Bacteria
When outside germs invade tissues, wounds can take longer to close or might not heal fully. Infections from bacteria or fungi pose big risks, especially for burn victims or people with weak defenses, like those with diabetes or HIV. Mixing GHK-Cu with specific fatty acids creates a strong fighter against many germs that slow down healing.
In people with diabetes, GHK-Cu outperformed regular treatments for foot sores. Those getting standard care plus GHK-Cu saw wounds close about 40% faster and infections drop by 27% compared to others. The same positive outcomes appeared in cases of wounds with poor blood flow.
Cognition and Nervous System Function
We don’t fully grasp why brain cells die in conditions like Alzheimer’s. That gap makes effective treatments hard to find, and current options often fall short. Yet, research points to GHK-Cu as a way to fight the age-related drop in brain cell performance that drives these issues. It can enhance blood vessel growth in the nerves, encourage nerve extension, and lower swelling in the main nervous system. Some findings even show GHK-Cu can fix harmful gene patterns and restore balance in broken-down systems.
High amounts of GHK-Cu exist in the brain, but levels fall as people get older. Experts think this drop, rather than new diseases starting, might cause nerve breakdown over time. GHK-Cu could shield nerve tissues from everyday wear and tear, like messed-up genes.
Rat studies suggest GHK-Cu guards brain areas by blocking cell death. This seems to work via a known path called miR-339-5p/VEGFA, which kicks in after brain bleeds or strokes. In those tests, GHK-Cu eased brain function problems, cut swelling, and stopped excess cell loss often triggered by too much miR-339-5p.
Chemotherapy
Mouse research shows GHK-Cu can shield lungs from scarring that follows treatment with the cancer medicine bleomycin. This might allow for higher safe doses of such drugs without worsening side effects. The study went further by pinpointing how GHK-Cu likely works: it controls levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6, which spark inflammation and change lung structures like the outer matrix and smooth muscles. By calming lung inflammation, GHK-Cu halts scar-like changes and supports better collagen placement.
GHK-Cu offered similar lung protection in mouse tests for acute respiratory distress syndrome, a fast-hitting lung inflammation that can kill. It often stems from injuries, infections, or chemo drugs. Again, the benefits tied to lower TNF-alpha and IL-6.
Pain Reduction
In rats, GHK-Cu reduced pain responses based on the amount given. It seems to ease discomfort by boosting a natural pain reliever called L-lysine. Other work found it raises L-arginine too, another compound that fights pain. These results could lead to fresh pain relief options that skip addictive opioids or NSAIDs, which can harm the heart.