What kind of evidence is included on the GHK-Cu mechanism page?

Only PubMed-verified publications and explicitly labeled editorial-review gaps are included.

Does this page provide medical advice or human-use guidance?

No. Atlas provides an educational publication map and does not provide sourcing, human-use instructions, or individual medical guidance.

Authority cluster

GHK-Cu: Mechanism

Mechanistic pathways reported in verified publications, separated from clinical inference.

Mechanistic frame

Investigated in copper-dependent signaling, extracellular-matrix remodeling, and cell migration models. Mechanistic records below are organized by their actual experimental system. They do not prove a clinical effect.

Publication records

17 verified studies

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Grade CAnimal study2024Indexed abstract extracted

The glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine-Cu(2+) tripeptide complex attenuates lung inflammation and fibrosis in silicosis by targeting peroxiredoxin 6

A mouse silicosis model with complementary RAW264.7 macrophage experiments and target investigation involving peroxiredoxin 6.

Journal: Redox Biology
Evidence context: Preclinical or narrative synthesis

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Grade DIn vitro study2024Indexed abstract extracted

Glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine prevents copper- and zinc-induced protein aggregation and central nervous system cell death in vitro

An in vitro investigation of GHK in copper- and zinc-associated protein aggregation, redox activity, inflammation, and cell-death models.

Journal: Metallomics : integrated biometal science
Evidence context: Metadata-only, mechanistic, or limited evidence

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Grade CAnimal study2022Indexed abstract extracted

Biomimetic Hydrogel Scaffolds with Copper Peptide-Functionalized RADA16 Nanofiber Improve Wound Healing in Diabetes

A functionalized RADA16 hydrogel study combining endothelial-cell assays with wound-healing experiments in healthy and diabetic mice.

Journal: Macromolecular Bioscience
Evidence context: Preclinical or narrative synthesis

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Grade CAnimal study2020Indexed abstract extracted

Protective effects of GHK-Cu in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis via anti-oxidative stress and anti-inflammation pathways

A bleomycin-induced pulmonary-fibrosis study in C57BL/6J mice examining histology, inflammation, collagen, EMT, and signaling pathways.

Journal: Life Sciences
Evidence context: Preclinical or narrative synthesis

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Grade CAnimal study2016Indexed abstract extracted

The tri-peptide GHK-Cu complex ameliorates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury in mice

A combined RAW264.7 macrophage and mouse lipopolysaccharide acute-lung-injury investigation.

Journal: Oncotarget
Evidence context: Preclinical or narrative synthesis

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Grade CReview2015Indexed abstract extracted

GHK Peptide as a Natural Modulator of Multiple Cellular Pathways in Skin Regeneration

A narrative review of GHK and GHK-Cu literature concerning matrix remodeling, wound models, cellular pathways, and skin-related applications.

Journal: BioMed Research International
Evidence context: Preclinical or narrative synthesis

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Grade CAnimal study1993Indexed abstract extracted

In vivo stimulation of connective tissue accumulation by the tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+ in rat experimental wounds

A rat wound-chamber experiment measuring matrix composition and collagen-related messenger RNA after local GHK-Cu exposure.

Journal: The Journal of Clinical Investigation
Evidence context: Preclinical or narrative synthesis

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Grade CAnimal study2018PubMed metadata verified

Regenerative and Protective Actions of the GHK-Cu Peptide in the Light of the New Gene Data.

Verified PubMed record for GHK-Cu: Regenerative and Protective Actions of the GHK-Cu Peptide in the Light of the New Gene Data.

Journal: International journal of molecular sciences
Evidence context: Preclinical or narrative synthesis

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Grade BReview2020PubMed metadata verified

The potential of GHK as an anti-aging peptide.

Verified PubMed record for GHK-Cu: The potential of GHK as an anti-aging peptide.

Journal: Aging pathobiology and therapeutics
Evidence context: Human comparative or observational evidence

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Grade DReview2025PubMed metadata verified

Topically applied GHK as an anti-wrinkle peptide: advantages, problems, and prospects.

Verified PubMed record for GHK-Cu: Topically applied GHK as an anti-wrinkle peptide: advantages, problems, and prospects.

Journal: BioImpacts : BI
Evidence context: Metadata-only, mechanistic, or limited evidence

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Grade DReview2023PubMed metadata verified

Glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine-Cu(2+) rescues cigarette smoking-induced skeletal muscle dysfunction via a sirtuin 1-dependent pathway.

Verified PubMed record for GHK-Cu: Glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine-Cu(2+) rescues cigarette smoking-induced skeletal muscle dysfunction via a sirtuin 1-dependent pathway.

Journal: Journal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle
Evidence context: Metadata-only, mechanistic, or limited evidence

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Grade DReview2022PubMed metadata verified

Glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu(2+) attenuates cigarette smoke-induced pulmonary emphysema and inflammation by reducing oxidative-stress pathway activity.

Verified PubMed record for GHK-Cu: Glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu(2+) attenuates cigarette smoke-induced pulmonary emphysema and inflammation by reducing oxidative-stress pathway activity.

Journal: Frontiers in molecular biosciences
Evidence context: Metadata-only, mechanistic, or limited evidence

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Grade CAnimal study2015PubMed metadata verified

Tripeptide-copper complex GHK-Cu (II) transiently improved healing outcome in a rat model of ACL reconstruction.

Verified PubMed record for GHK-Cu: Tripeptide-copper complex GHK-Cu (II) transiently improved healing outcome in a rat model of ACL reconstruction.

Journal: Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society
Evidence context: Preclinical or narrative synthesis

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Grade CIn vitro study1988PubMed metadata verified

Stimulation of collagen synthesis in fibroblast cultures by the tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+.

Verified PubMed record for GHK-Cu: Stimulation of collagen synthesis in fibroblast cultures by the tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+.

Journal: FEBS letters
Evidence context: Preclinical or narrative synthesis

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Grade CIn vitro study2000PubMed metadata verified

The tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+ stimulates matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression by fibroblast cultures.

Verified PubMed record for GHK-Cu: The tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+ stimulates matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression by fibroblast cultures.

Journal: Life sciences
Evidence context: Preclinical or narrative synthesis

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Grade DReview2023PubMed metadata verified

Liposomes as Carriers of GHK-Cu Tripeptide for Cosmetic Application.

Verified PubMed record for GHK-Cu: Liposomes as Carriers of GHK-Cu Tripeptide for Cosmetic Application.

Journal: Pharmaceutics
Evidence context: Metadata-only, mechanistic, or limited evidence

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Grade CIn vitro study2023PubMed metadata verified

Relief of ovalbumin-induced airway remodeling by the glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine-Cu(2+) tripeptide complex via activation of SIRT1 in airway epithelial cells.

Verified PubMed record for GHK-Cu: Relief of ovalbumin-induced airway remodeling by the glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine-Cu(2+) tripeptide complex via activation of SIRT1 in airway epithelial cells.

Journal: Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
Evidence context: Preclinical or narrative synthesis

Review study record →

GHK-Cu: Mechanism

Mechanistic frame

17 verified studies

The glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine-Cu(2+) tripeptide complex attenuates lung inflammation and fibrosis in silicosis by targeting peroxiredoxin 6

Glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine prevents copper- and zinc-induced protein aggregation and central nervous system cell death in vitro

Biomimetic Hydrogel Scaffolds with Copper Peptide-Functionalized RADA16 Nanofiber Improve Wound Healing in Diabetes

Protective effects of GHK-Cu in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis via anti-oxidative stress and anti-inflammation pathways

The tri-peptide GHK-Cu complex ameliorates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury in mice

GHK Peptide as a Natural Modulator of Multiple Cellular Pathways in Skin Regeneration

In vivo stimulation of connective tissue accumulation by the tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+ in rat experimental wounds

Regenerative and Protective Actions of the GHK-Cu Peptide in the Light of the New Gene Data.

The potential of GHK as an anti-aging peptide.

Topically applied GHK as an anti-wrinkle peptide: advantages, problems, and prospects.

Glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine-Cu(2+) rescues cigarette smoking-induced skeletal muscle dysfunction via a sirtuin 1-dependent pathway.

Glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu(2+) attenuates cigarette smoke-induced pulmonary emphysema and inflammation by reducing oxidative-stress pathway activity.

Tripeptide-copper complex GHK-Cu (II) transiently improved healing outcome in a rat model of ACL reconstruction.

Stimulation of collagen synthesis in fibroblast cultures by the tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+.

The tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+ stimulates matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression by fibroblast cultures.

Liposomes as Carriers of GHK-Cu Tripeptide for Cosmetic Application.

Relief of ovalbumin-induced airway remodeling by the glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine-Cu(2+) tripeptide complex via activation of SIRT1 in airway epithelial cells.

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