Abstract
The copper binding tripeptide GHK (glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine) is a naturally occurring plasma peptide that significantly declines during human aging. It has been established that GHK:Copper(2+) improves wound healing and tissue regeneration and stimulates collagen and decorin production. GHK-Cu also supports angiogenesis and nerve outgrowth, improves the condition of aging skin and hair, and possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. In addition, it increases cellular stemness and secretion of trophic factors by mesenchymal stem cells. GHK’s antioxidant actions have been demonstrated in vitro and in animal studies. They include blocking the formation of reactive oxygen and carbonyl species, detoxifying toxic products of lipid peroxidation such as acrolein, protecting keratinocytes from lethal Ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation, and blocking hepatic damage by dichloromethane radicals. In recent studies, GHK has been found to switch gene expression from a diseased state to a healthier state for certain cancers and for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The Broad Institute’s Connectivity Map indicated that GHK induces a 50% or greater change of expression in 31.2% of human genes. This paper reviews biological data demonstrating positive effects of GHK in skin and proposes interaction with antioxidant-related genes as a possible explanation of its antioxidant activity.
Highlights
Human skin serves as a barrier between the internal environment of the body and the external environment
Even though there is still not enough data to connect gene profiling data to biological effects, we identified some interesting parallels, which may suggest a possible mechanism of GHK-Cu actions
Animal and in vitro studies present overwhelming evidence of the widespread positive effects of GHK in the human body. Until recently it was not quite clear how one simple molecule can possess so many biological effects ranging from the stimulation of wound healing and tissue regeneration to the increase in secretion of important biological molecules and antioxidant defense
Summary
Human skin serves as a barrier between the internal environment of the body and the external environment. Robust protective systems and intricate biochemical pathways ensure that skin remains healthy and that any damage that occurs is repaired in a timely manner. It was established that many naturally occurring compounds known for their ability to prevent oxidative stress and inflammation are capable of regulating multiple biochemical pathways by up- or down-regulating gene expression [3]. This opened a new venue for skin aging and cancer prevention research. This article discusses the naturally occurring tripeptide copper complex GHK-Cu, which is known to possess wound healing, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-aging properties [4]. We will focus primarily on antioxidant properties of the GHK-Cu peptide
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