GHK-Cu: The Copper Peptide Science Guide

Your body already makes GHK-Cu. It circulates in your blood, sits in your saliva, and shows up in your urine. At age 20, your plasma levels hover around 200 ng/mL. By 60, they drop to about 80 ng/mL — a 60% decline that tracks uncomfortably well with the slowing of wound healing, thinning skin, and diminished tissue repair that most people accept as "just getting older."

That correlation caught the attention of a biochemist named Loren Pickart in 1973, and fifty years of research later, GHK-Cu has become one of the most studied regenerative peptides in the scientific literature — with evidence spanning skin aging, wound healing, hair growth, lung repair, and even cognitive decline. It also happens to be the active ingredient in a rapidly growing category of copper peptide skincare products.

This guide covers what the science actually says. Not the marketing claims. Not the Reddit hype. The research.

Quick Facts

Property	Details
Full name	Glycyl-L-Histidyl-L-Lysine:Copper(II)
Type	Naturally occurring tripeptide-copper complex
Found in	Human plasma, saliva, urine
Molecular weight	403.9 Da (with copper)
Natural plasma levels	~200 ng/mL at age 20; ~80 ng/mL by age 60
Discovery	1973 by Dr. Loren Pickart
Genes affected	4,000+ (at >50% change threshold)
Primary research areas	Skin aging, wound healing, hair growth, lung repair, neuroprotection
Topical skincare	Legal, widely available in serums and creams
Injectable	Restricted; not FDA-approved for injection
WADA status	Not prohibited

What Is GHK-Cu?

GHK-Cu is a tripeptide — a chain of three amino acids (glycine, histidine, and lysine) — that binds copper(II) ions with high affinity. That copper binding is not a side effect or a bonus feature. It is central to how the peptide works.

The molecule is tiny. At 403.9 daltons, it is one of the smallest biologically active peptides known. But its size is deceptive — GHK-Cu triggers cascading biological responses far out of proportion to its molecular weight.

Your body produces GHK-Cu naturally. The tripeptide sequence sits within larger proteins of the extracellular matrix — the structural scaffolding that holds tissues together. The most notable source is SPARC (secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine), a glycoprotein that breaks down at sites of tissue injury and releases GHK. The sequence also appears in the alpha 2(I) chain of type I collagen, meaning it gets freed whenever collagen is damaged.

Think of it as a built-in emergency signal. Tissue injury breaks down structural proteins, releasing GHK, which binds available copper and orchestrates the repair response.

Discovery: The Younger Blood Experiment

The story of GHK-Cu starts with an observation that sounds like it belongs in a vampire novel.

In the early 1970s, Dr. Loren Pickart — a biochemist with degrees from the University of Minnesota and UC San Francisco — noticed something strange while studying liver tissue: when liver cells from older patients were cultured in blood serum from younger individuals, the old cells started behaving like young ones, producing proteins at rates characteristic of much younger tissue.

Something in younger blood was resetting aged cells. Pickart set out to find it.

By 1973, he had isolated the active factor from human plasma albumin: a small peptide matching the sequence glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine. He described GHK as a liver cell growth factor that shifted older tissue toward younger patterns of protein synthesis.

By 1977, the peptide's identity was confirmed. Over the following decade, researchers discovered GHK's effects extended well beyond the liver. It accelerated wound healing, stimulated collagen production, attracted immune cells, and promoted blood vessel formation — all at remarkably low concentrations (picomolar to nanomolar).

Pickart (1938-2023) spent the rest of his career studying copper peptides. But the biggest leap in understanding GHK didn't come from his lab. It came from a genomics database at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard.

How GHK-Cu Works: Mechanisms of Action

GHK-Cu does not operate through a single receptor or pathway. It works through at least five distinct mechanisms, which partly explains why it affects such a wide range of biological processes.

1. Copper Delivery and Enzymatic Activation

The copper ion in GHK-Cu is not just along for the ride. Copper serves as a cofactor for enzymes that are essential to tissue integrity — particularly lysyl oxidase, which cross-links collagen and elastin fibers, and superoxide dismutase (SOD), which neutralizes damaging free radicals.

By delivering copper directly to tissue sites, GHK-Cu supports the enzymatic machinery that keeps skin firm, blood vessels intact, and oxidative damage in check.

2. TGF-Beta and Growth Factor Signaling

GHK-Cu activates the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) pathway, one of the body's primary tissue repair signals. This stimulates fibroblast activity, collagen production, and extracellular matrix remodeling.

The peptide also stimulates the release of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which promotes new blood vessel formation; brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which supports nerve cell survival; and bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2), involved in bone repair.

3. Stem Cell and Immune Cell Recruitment

At low concentrations, GHK-Cu acts as a powerful chemoattractant — a chemical signal that draws cells toward it. It attracts macrophages, mast cells, and capillary cells to wound sites, coordinating the immune and regenerative response. There is also evidence it activates dermal stem cells, potentially contributing to the regeneration of hair follicles and skin structures.

4. Antioxidant Defense

Beyond delivering copper for SOD function, GHK-Cu directly reduces reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells. In one study, cells pretreated with GHK-Cu at concentrations as low as 10 nanomolar showed significant decreases in hydrogen peroxide-induced ROS levels. It also boosts glutathione and ascorbic acid levels in wound tissue.

5. Matrix Metalloproteinase Regulation

GHK-Cu increases the expression of both matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) — enzymes that break down damaged extracellular matrix — and their inhibitors (TIMPs). This dual regulation allows controlled remodeling: clearing out damaged tissue while simultaneously rebuilding it. Getting this balance right is what separates clean healing from scarring.

The Gene Story: 4,000+ Genes and Counting

If GHK-Cu's mechanisms of action already sound broad, the gene expression data are where things get remarkable.

When researchers at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard created the Connectivity Map — a database that tracks how different compounds affect human gene expression — they made it possible to see GHK-Cu's genome-wide impact for the first time.

The numbers are striking. GHK-Cu affects the expression of over 4,000 human genes at a threshold of 50% change or greater. That is roughly 31% of the human genome. Of those affected genes, about 59% are upregulated (turned up) and 41% are downregulated (turned down).

This is not a blunt instrument. The patterns are specific and, so far, consistently health-positive. GHK-Cu upregulates genes involved in:

Tissue repair and collagen synthesis
Antioxidant defense (SOD, catalase)
DNA repair (47 genes stimulated, 5 suppressed)
Anti-inflammatory pathways
Programmed cell death of damaged cells (caspases)
Tumor suppression (including p53-family genes)

And it downregulates genes involved in:

Chronic inflammation (NF-kB signaling)
Tissue destruction
Insulin resistance

Researchers have described this pattern as a kind of genomic "reset" — shifting the gene expression profile of aged or damaged cells back toward patterns characteristic of younger, healthier tissue. Some have proposed that GHK-Cu acts as an epigenetic modifier, meaning it does not change DNA itself but changes how genes are read and expressed.

This is what sets GHK-Cu apart from most single-target drugs. It does not hit one receptor. It shifts entire gene networks. Whether that makes it a miracle compound or just an unusually versatile one depends on how the clinical evidence holds up — which brings us to the research.

Research Evidence by Area

Skin Aging and Wrinkle Reduction

This is where GHK-Cu has its strongest clinical evidence in humans.

In a randomized, double-blind clinical trial, women applied GHK-Cu encapsulated in a nano-lipid carrier twice daily for eight weeks. Compared to the peptide formulation Matrixyl 3000, GHK-Cu reduced wrinkle volume by 31.6%. Compared to a control serum, wrinkle volume dropped by 55.8% and wrinkle depth by 32.8%.

A separate 12-week study found that GHK-Cu cream improved collagen production in 70% of treated women — outperforming vitamin C cream (50%) and retinoic acid (40%). The same study found improvements in skin laxity, firmness, clarity, thickness, and reduction in fine lines and mottled pigmentation.

A 2023 double-blind, split-face study of 60 women (ages 40-65) using 0.05% GHK-Cu serum for 12 weeks showed a 22% increase in skin firmness and a 16% reduction in fine lines.

At the cellular level, GHK-Cu at concentrations as low as 0.01 nanomolar increased production of both collagen and elastin in human dermal fibroblasts. It also stimulated dermal keratinocyte proliferation, which matters for overall skin renewal.

The bottom line on skin: Multiple human studies show measurable anti-aging effects. The evidence is stronger than for most cosmeceutical peptides, though results are typically described as mild to moderate improvements rather than dramatic transformations.

Wound Healing

Wound healing was one of the first documented effects of GHK-Cu, and the evidence here is robust — primarily from animal studies.

In rats, mice, and pigs, GHK-Cu injected at one body site improved healing at distant wound sites, showing a systemic (whole-body) effect. Treated wounds showed:

Up to 9-fold increases in collagen production
Faster wound closure
Improved blood vessel formation (angiogenesis)
Decreased inflammatory markers (MMP-2, MMP-9, TNF-beta)
Higher glutathione and ascorbic acid levels in wound tissue
Better epithelialization (skin surface restoration)

GHK-Cu also improved healing of ischemic (low blood-flow) wounds in rats, a model relevant to diabetic ulcers and pressure sores.

One limitation: GHK-Cu is sensitive to breakdown by carboxypeptidase enzymes. Chronic wounds like diabetic ulcers often produce a "wound serum" that rapidly degrades GHK and probably other growth factors, which complicates direct wound application.

For context on other peptides studied for tissue repair, see our guides on BPC-157 and TB-500, both of which have overlapping but distinct wound healing research.

Hair Growth

The evidence for GHK-Cu and hair growth is promising but still mostly preclinical.

GHK-Cu appears to promote hair growth through several pathways. It stimulates dermal papilla cells — the cells at the base of hair follicles that control the growth cycle. It decreases TGF-beta1 secretion (which can trigger premature follicle miniaturization), promotes VEGF expression (improving blood supply to follicles), and reduces apoptosis of dermal papilla cells.

There is also evidence GHK-Cu activates the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway, involved in hair follicle regeneration and the transition into active growth phase.

A 2025 Japanese trial using 0.02% GHK-Cu lotion found a 7% increase in hair count after 16 weeks. However, compared to minoxidil, results remain mild.

A significant challenge is delivery. Copper peptides are difficult to get past the skin barrier. Researchers have developed ionic liquid microemulsion systems that improved topical delivery by roughly three-fold in mouse models.

Where it stands: GHK-Cu is not a replacement for minoxidil or finasteride for significant hair loss. It is better described as a supportive, non-hormonal adjunct with a favorable safety profile.

Lung Repair and COPD

This is one of the most scientifically interesting areas of GHK-Cu research, even though it remains entirely preclinical.

A multi-center collaboration between Boston University, University of Groningen, University of British Columbia, and University of Pennsylvania found that GHK reversed the gene expression signature of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). In COPD patients, genes involved in inflammation are overactive while genes involved in tissue repair — particularly in the TGF-beta pathway — are suppressed. GHK reversed this pattern.

More concretely: lung fibroblasts taken from COPD patients have defects that impair their ability to contract and remodel collagen. When these fibroblasts were treated with 10 nanomolar GHK, their collagen remodeling ability was restored to levels comparable to fibroblasts from healthy ex-smokers. The treated cells also showed elevated integrin beta-1 expression and reorganized actin cytoskeletons — markers of functional fibroblast activity.

A separate study showed that GHK inhibited bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice by suppressing TGF-beta1/Smad-mediated epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, with 40-60% improvements in chronic inflammation indices and partial reversal of emphysematous damage.

Why it matters: COPD is the third leading cause of death worldwide. If GHK-Cu can be developed into a therapeutic for lung repair, it would address an enormous unmet medical need. But we are still in the animal study phase — human trials for lung applications have not yet been conducted.

Anti-Cancer Potential

In 1983, a mixture of GHK-copper plus ascorbic acid was tested against sarcoma-180 tumors in mice, producing strong tumor suppression. The results went unpublished until 2014, when they could be paired with gene expression data from the Broad Institute.

That gene data revealed several anti-cancer mechanisms. GHK upregulated 10 caspase and caspase-associated genes — the molecular machinery responsible for programmed cell death (apoptosis). It also activated tumor suppressor genes including PTEN, BRCA1, and p63, and stimulated 47 DNA repair genes while suppressing only 5.

Cell culture studies showed that GHK at 1-10 nanomolar reactivated apoptosis in neuroblastoma, lymphoma, and breast cancer cells while accelerating the growth of healthy fibroblasts. This selectivity — killing cancer cells while supporting normal ones — is exactly what researchers look for. The Connectivity Map also identified GHK as the best compound, out of 1,309 bioactive molecules, to reverse the gene expression signature of aggressive, metastatic colon cancer.

Reality check: Gene expression data and cell culture experiments are suggestive, not conclusive. No human clinical trials for cancer treatment exist. The anti-cancer research is best understood as early-stage evidence that warrants further investigation, not as a basis for treatment decisions.

Brain Health and Cognitive Decline

This is the newest and perhaps most intriguing area of GHK-Cu research.

The brain is exceptionally rich in copper, which is involved in neurotransmitter synthesis, myelin formation, and antioxidant defense. Copper dysregulation has been implicated in Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's, and other neurodegenerative conditions. Using the Connectivity Map, researchers found that GHK modulates genes involved in nervous system development and maintenance, including genes for antioxidant defense, anti-inflammatory pathways, and DNA repair in neural tissue.

Animal studies have shown encouraging results. Aging mice (28 months old) treated with GHK at 10 mg/kg body weight, five times per week for three weeks, showed improved learning compared to saline-treated controls.

A more recent study tested intranasal GHK-Cu delivery in 20-month-old mice at 15 mg/kg daily for two months. Treated mice showed improved spatial memory and learning navigation, along with decreased markers of neuroinflammation and axonal damage. Intranasal delivery bypasses the blood-brain barrier, making it a particularly promising route for brain-targeted peptide therapy.

A peptidomimetic compound based on GHK has also been shown to interact with amyloid beta — the protein that forms Alzheimer's plaques — preventing the formation of toxic oligomeric species.

Where it stands: Early-stage research with no human clinical trials for cognitive applications. But the convergence of gene expression data, animal studies, and plausible biological mechanisms makes this an area worth watching.

For comparison, other peptides with emerging neuroprotective research include Selank and Semax, though their mechanisms differ significantly from GHK-Cu's.

Anti-Inflammatory Effects

GHK-Cu's anti-inflammatory properties run through nearly all of its studied applications, but they deserve separate attention.

The peptide suppresses NF-kB and p38 MAPK signaling, reducing TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-1-beta, and fibrinogen levels. In human dermal fibroblasts, copper complexes of GHK reduced TNF-alpha-induced IL-6 secretion, leading some researchers to propose GHK-Cu as a potential alternative to corticosteroids for inflammatory skin conditions.

A 2025 study in Frontiers in Pharmacology explored GHK-Cu's effects on experimentally induced ulcerative colitis in mice. The study found therapeutic benefits through the SIRT1/STAT3 pathway, pointing to new applications in inflammatory bowel disease.

For other peptides with notable anti-inflammatory properties, see our profiles of LL-37 (antimicrobial and immunomodulatory) and Thymosin Alpha-1 (immune regulation).

GHK-Cu in Skincare: Topical Use

Topical copper peptide products are the most accessible way people encounter GHK-Cu. Here is what you need to know about how they are formulated and used.

Concentration Ranges

Beginner / sensitive skin: 0.03%-1% — gentle enough for most skin types, minimal irritation risk
Standard daily use: 2%-4% — the range most commercial products target
Common "sweet spot": 3% — considered optimal for balancing efficacy with tolerability
Eye area: 2% — lower concentration for delicate skin
High-concentration products: Up to 7-10% — available but carry higher irritation risk

What to Expect

Topical GHK-Cu products are typically marketed for fine lines, skin firmness, skin tone, and post-procedure recovery. Based on the clinical evidence, reasonable expectations include mild to moderate improvements in:

Fine line depth and wrinkle volume
Skin firmness and elasticity
Skin thickness and density
Overall skin clarity and tone
Post-procedure healing time

These are gradual effects. Most studies show results over 8-12 weeks of consistent use.

Important Compatibility Notes

GHK-Cu does not play well with everything. Avoid combining it with:

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid or MAP) — copper ions can destabilize vitamin C and interfere with its antioxidant activity. Use them at different times of day.
Alpha and beta hydroxy acids — the low pH environment can degrade the peptide. Separate application times.
Zinc oxide sunscreens — zinc ions may compete with copper ions. Use copper peptide products in the evening and zinc-based sunscreen in the morning.

The "Less Is More" Principle

With copper peptides, more is not better. Excessive copper can accelerate the breakdown of damaged tissue faster than the skin can regenerate, leading to a paradoxical worsening of skin quality. Start at a lower concentration, apply consistently, and increase gradually based on your skin's response.

Injectable GHK-Cu: What the Research Shows

Injectable GHK-Cu exists in a different category from topical products — both in terms of evidence and regulation.

Research Dosing

In animal and limited human research, injectable GHK-Cu has typically been studied at:

1-2 mg/day subcutaneously, often in 30-day cycles
2 mg, 2-3 times per week in some protocols
10 mg/kg/day in mouse cognitive studies (intranasal route)

The toxicity margin is wide. The lethal dose in rodent models extrapolates to approximately 21,000 mg for a 70 kg human, putting standard research doses at roughly 1/5000th of toxic levels.

Systemic Effects

One of GHK-Cu's most interesting injectable properties is systemic action. In animal models, GHK-Cu injected at one body site improved healing at distant locations, suggesting circulating GHK-Cu may benefit tissues throughout the body.

Injectable GHK-Cu has not been through phase III clinical trials required for FDA drug approval. Its use via injection remains experimental and off-label.

For comparison with other peptides used in injectable research protocols, see our guides on BPC-157, Thymosin Beta-4, and Epitalon.

Safety Profile and Side Effects

GHK-Cu has one of the more favorable safety profiles among studied peptides, which makes sense given that it is a naturally occurring compound already present in human tissue.

Topical Use

Side effects from topical GHK-Cu products are generally limited to:

Mild skin irritation (uncommon at standard concentrations)
Temporary redness in sensitive individuals
Paradoxical skin thinning with excessive use (overuse of copper peptides)

Topical GHK-Cu has been used in commercial skincare products for decades without reports of serious adverse effects.

Injectable Use

Reported side effects from injectable protocols are mostly mild and transient:

Injection site reactions — redness, mild swelling, or itching, usually resolving within hours
Temporary skin flushing — warmth or facial redness related to vasodilation
Mild fatigue — occasionally reported in the first few days, typically resolving
Headache — rare, possibly related to mild blood pressure effects

Who Should Avoid GHK-Cu

People with Wilson's disease — a genetic condition of copper accumulation. Adding a copper-binding peptide is contraindicated.
Known copper sensitivity — though this is rare
Active cancer patients — while the gene expression data suggest anti-cancer effects, the peptide also stimulates cell growth and angiogenesis. Until human cancer studies exist, caution is warranted.
Pregnant or nursing women — no safety data exists for this population

Copper Toxicity

At therapeutic concentrations, GHK-Cu is well below levels that cause copper toxicity. However, combining multiple copper-containing supplements or products could theoretically push intake higher. Symptoms of copper toxicity include nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, and a metallic taste. Some practitioners recommend monitoring copper and zinc levels.

Legal and Regulatory Status

The regulatory picture for GHK-Cu depends entirely on how you plan to use it.

Topical Skincare: Legal

GHK-Cu in serums, creams, and cosmetic products is regulated under cosmetic guidelines by the FDA. No prescription or approval process is required.

Compounded Non-Injectable: Category 1

The FDA placed GHK-Cu on the Category 1 list for 503A compounding — but only for non-injectable routes. Compounding pharmacies can legally produce topical GHK-Cu formulations.

Injectable: Restricted

Injectable GHK-Cu is restricted for compounding. This is part of a broader crackdown that began in 2023, when the FDA placed numerous peptides — including BPC-157, thymosin alpha-1, TB-500, and injectable GHK-Cu — on the Category 2 list of substances that "raise significant safety risks."

A September 2024 settlement between compounding groups and the FDA created some movement on other peptides, but injectable GHK-Cu remains restricted.

WADA (Anti-Doping): Not Prohibited

The World Anti-Doping Agency does not list GHK-Cu on its Prohibited List. This is likely because its primary applications are topical and it has not been associated with performance-enhancing effects that would concern anti-doping authorities.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does GHK-Cu differ from other copper peptides?

GHK-Cu is the most studied copper peptide, but not the only one. "Copper peptides" in skincare can refer to various copper-binding peptides. GHK-Cu specifically means the tripeptide glycyl-histidyl-lysine bound to copper(II). Other copper peptides, such as AHK-Cu (alanine-histidine-lysine), have far less published research. When buying skincare products, check whether they contain GHK-Cu (sometimes listed as "Copper Tripeptide-1") or a different copper peptide.

Can I use GHK-Cu with retinol?

GHK-Cu and retinol both stimulate collagen through different mechanisms. Many dermatologists suggest using them at separate times — retinol in the evening, copper peptide in the morning, or alternating days. Some formulations combine them. Start cautiously and monitor your skin's response.

How long until I see results from topical GHK-Cu?

Clinical studies assess results at 8-12 weeks of consistent, twice-daily use. Some people notice improved skin texture within 4-6 weeks, but measurable changes to fine lines and firmness generally require the full 8-12 week period.

Is GHK-Cu better than retinol for anti-aging?

Different tools, different strengths. Retinoids have decades of clinical evidence and FDA-approved anti-aging formulations. GHK-Cu has strong preclinical evidence and growing clinical data, but fewer human trials. One study found GHK-Cu outperformed retinoic acid for collagen production (70% vs. 40% of subjects improved), but direct head-to-head comparisons are limited. Many routines incorporate both.

Can GHK-Cu regrow hair?

Current evidence suggests modest improvements in hair density and thickness through improved follicle blood supply, anti-inflammatory effects, and dermal papilla cell support. It is not as effective as minoxidil and should be considered a supportive treatment rather than a primary hair loss therapy.

What is the difference between topical and injectable GHK-Cu?

Topical GHK-Cu acts primarily on local tissue — skin cells, collagen, surface blood vessels. Injectable GHK-Cu enters systemic circulation and can affect distant tissues, which is how it produces whole-body effects in animal studies. The tradeoff: topical is legal, widely available, and well-studied; injectable is restricted, less studied in humans, and carries the additional risks of any injection.

The Bottom Line

GHK-Cu occupies a rare position in the peptide world: it is a naturally occurring human compound with an unusually broad evidence base spanning skin biology, wound repair, genomics, immunology, and neuroscience.

For skincare, the evidence is real. Multiple clinical trials show measurable anti-aging benefits from topical GHK-Cu, and it has a 50-year track record of safe use in cosmetic products. It is not a magic bullet — no ingredient is — but it is one of the better-supported active ingredients in the cosmeceutical category.

For systemic applications — lung repair, neuroprotection, anti-cancer activity — the science is genuinely exciting but still early. The gene expression data from the Broad Institute are among the most comprehensive ever published for a single compound, and the pattern is consistently health-positive. But gene data and animal studies do not guarantee the same effects in humans. Clinical trials for these applications are needed and, based on the current trajectory of research, seem increasingly likely.

What makes GHK-Cu especially interesting is its mechanism. Unlike most drugs that target a single receptor, GHK-Cu appears to reset broad patterns of gene expression toward healthier configurations. If that holds up in clinical settings, it represents a fundamentally different approach to age-related disease — not blocking one pathway, but shifting thousands of genes back toward younger expression patterns.

The practical advice is straightforward: topical GHK-Cu products are a well-supported addition to a science-based skincare routine. For anything beyond topical use, work with a healthcare provider who understands both the evidence and its limitations.

This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting any new treatment. PeptideJournal.org has no financial relationships with peptide manufacturers or vendors.

References

Pickart, L., & Margolina, A. (2018). Regenerative and Protective Actions of the GHK-Cu Peptide in the Light of the New Gene Data. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 19(7), 1987. PMC6073405
Pickart, L. (2015). GHK Peptide as a Natural Modulator of Multiple Cellular Pathways in Skin Regeneration. BioMed Research International. PMC4508379
Dou, Y., et al. (2022). The potential of GHK as an anti-aging peptide. Aging Pathobiology and Therapeutics, 4(1). PMC8789089
Pickart, L. (2012). The Human Tripeptide GHK-Cu in Prevention of Oxidative Stress and Degenerative Conditions of Aging: Implications for Cognitive Health. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity. PMC3359723
Pickart, L., Vasquez-Soltero, J. M., & Margolina, A. (2017). The Effect of the Human Peptide GHK on Gene Expression Relevant to Nervous System Function and Cognitive Decline. Brain Sciences, 7(2), 20. PMC5332963
Pickart, L., Vasquez-Soltero, J. M., Pickart, F. D., & Majnarich, J. (2014). GHK, the Human Skin Remodeling Peptide, Induces Anti-Cancer Expression of Numerous Caspase, Growth Regulatory, and DNA Repair Genes. Journal of Analytical Oncology, 3(2), 79-87. Link
Pickart, L. (2014). GHK and DNA: Resetting the Human Genome to Health. BioMed Research International. PMC4180391
Zhou, X. M., et al. (2017). GHK Peptide Inhibits Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis in Mice by Suppressing TGFbeta1/Smad-Mediated Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 8, 904. Link
Kang, Y. A., et al. (2023). Intranasal GHK Peptide Enhances Resilience to Cognitive Decline in Aging Mice. PMC10680828
Li, J., et al. (2025). Exploring the beneficial effects of GHK-Cu on an experimental model of colitis and the underlying mechanisms. Frontiers in Pharmacology. Link