Description

GHK-Cu is a small, naturally occurring peptide with the ability to attenuate inflammation, improve
antioxidant responses, and improve gene expression on a large scale. Research shows that this
copper-chelating peptide may be of critical importance both in the prevention of
neurodegenerative disease and as a tool for exploring pathophysiological mechanisms. Studies
in mice have revealed that GHK-Cu can protect against neurological insults, improve wound
healing, reduce rates of infection, and boost blood vessel growth. The peptide has been of
interest in recent years for its anti-oxidant properties that, in combination with its ability to alter
gene expression patterns, appear to help slow or even reverse some aspects of aging.
GHK-Cu is a natural peptide that forms an ionic complex with copper in human plasma
First isolated in 1973, GHK-Cu has been the subject of extensive research over the
decades. It is thought that the primary role of GHK-Cu is to facilitate copper uptake by
cells and control copper sequestration, but the properties of the peptide appear to be
more extensive than that. GHK-Cu has been shown to impact wound healing, immune
function, free-radical scavenging, protein synthesis, nerve growth, blood vessel health, and
the aging process.
Most work has focused on wound healing and skin health, with GHK-Cu showing a
remarkable ability to increase collage and elastin production, stimulate blood vessel growth,
lower inflammation, and increase the anti-oxidant response Research in animals suggests that
GHK-Cu supplementation can more than double the rate of wound healing[1]. Recently, a
limited number of animal studies have indicated that GHK-Cu might have an effect on DNA
expression to the point that it may partially reverse cognitive impairment in mice and slow the
progression of (or even prevent) certain diseases associated with aging.