PCL GHK-CU 75mg

GHK-Cu is a naturally occurring copper-binding tripeptide composed of glycine, histidine, and lysine, which forms a high-affinity complex with divalent copper (Cu²⁺) ions. First identified in human plasma, its concentration declines significantly with age—from approximately 200 ng/mL in youth to 80 ng/mL by the age of 60 (Pickart and Margolina 2018).

The GHK-Cu complex adopts a square-planar geometry, coordinated through the nitrogen atoms of the imidazole ring of histidine, the α-amino group of glycine, and the deprotonated amide nitrogen of the glycine-histidine peptide bond. This structure stabilizes the complex and supports its role as a redox-inactive carrier of bioavailable copper (Pickart, Vasquez-Soltero, and Margolina 2012).

Experimental evidence shows that GHK-Cu modulates the expression of thousands of genes involved in tissue remodeling, inflammatory response, and oxidative stress mitigation (Pickart and Margolina 2018; Pickart, Vasquez-Soltero, and Margolina 2015). It enhances both synthesis and breakdown of extracellular matrix components, such as collagen, glycosaminoglycans (including dermatan and chondroitin sulfate), and decorin, and regulates metalloproteinases and their inhibitors (Pickart, Vasquez-Soltero, and Margolina 2015).

In fibroblast cultures, GHK-Cu has been shown to increase proliferation and upregulate markers of regenerative potential, such as integrins and p63, indicative of enhanced stemness and reparative capacity (Pickart and Margolina 2018; Pickart, Vasquez-Soltero, and Margolina 2015).

GHK-Cu also influences the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS), upregulating dozens of genes involved in protein degradation and cellular maintenance, thereby supporting proteostasis under stress conditions (Pickart and Margolina 2018). Its chemical stability and non-toxic copper delivery capacity further underscore its utility as a molecular tool for investigating gene expression, tissue regeneration, and copper-mediated biochemical processes (Pickart, Vasquez-Soltero, and Margolina 2012).