01 · mechanism of action
GHK-Cu (Glycyl-L-Histidyl-L-Lysine-Copper) is a naturally occurring tripeptide-copper complex whose plasma levels decline dramatically with age. Pickart and others document remarkable biological activity: in animal studies GHK-Cu increased collagen synthesis in fibroblasts by up to 70 %, activated wound healing through TGF-β stimulation, and accelerated epithelialization of skin defects. In aged mice it significantly improved hair follicle density and quality. At the molecular level GHK-Cu modulates the expression of over 4,000 genes — many associated with inflammation, tissue regeneration and tumor prevention (Pickart 2012). In lung fibrosis models in rats it reduced pathological collagen deposition and improved lung elasticity.