| GHK is a peptide released during extracellular matrix (ECM) protein degradation following tissue injury. It binds to copper to form GHK-Cu, a complex with diverse biological activities, including roles in tissue remodeling and wound healing, hair growth, and suppression of inflammation. GHK increases keratinocyte proliferation in vitro, as well as the number of cells positive for the keratinocyte stem cell marker p63 and the protein levels of integrin alpha6 and beta1 in a skin equivalent model. It also reduces infiltration of inflammatory cells and decreases TNF-alpha and IL-6 protein levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in a mouse model of pulmonary fibrosis induced by bleomycin. |
