RegenerationPeptides5 min read
TB-500: Thymosin Beta-4 Fragment in Regeneration Research
TB-500 is a synthetic fragment of the endogenous protein Thymosin Beta-4. Learn what science knows about its regenerative properties.
SkinRegeneration
GHK-Cu: The Copper Peptide for Collagen Synthesis and Tissue Regeneration
5 min read
GHK-Cu: An Endogenous Coordination Complex
GHK-Cu (Glycyl-L-Histidyl-L-Lysine-Copper(II)) is a naturally occurring copper complex originally isolated from human plasma. The concentration of GHK-Cu in human blood plasma is approximately 200 ng/ml in young adults, but declines to about 80 ng/ml with increasing age.
The coordinative binding of the copper ion to the tripeptide is essential for biological activity. As a copper(II) complex, GHK-Cu transports copper into cells and tissues where it is needed as a cofactor for enzymes such as lysyl oxidase (cross-linking of collagen and elastin).
Collagen Synthesis and Tissue Regeneration
Pickart and Margolina described in Int J Mol Sci (2018) the extraordinarily broad biological activity of GHK-Cu: it stimulates synthesis of Collagen I, III and IV, elastin and proteoglycans in fibroblasts. It simultaneously activates metalloproteinases that degrade damaged collagen, promoting coordinated tissue remodelling.
In wound healing models, GHK-Cu showed accelerated epithelialisation and improved mechanical properties of newly formed tissue. These effects explain the use of GHK-Cu derivatives in cosmetic research and medical wound dressings.
Gene Expression Modulation and Systemic Effects
A fascinating discovery in recent GHK-Cu research is the peptide's ability to modulate the expression of more than 4,000 genes — including genes associated with DNA repair, antioxidation and tumour suppression. Studien Peptide offers GHK-Cu as a high-purity copper peptide complex for research purposes.