Stimulation of collagen synthesis in fibroblast cultures by the tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
In vitro bench research without human subjects
PubMed 3169264 · doi:10.1016/0014-5793(88)80509-x
What was done
Fibroblast cultures were treated with varying concentrations of the tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+ (GHK-Cu) to evaluate its effect on collagen synthesis.
What was found
GHK-Cu stimulated collagen synthesis in cultured fibroblasts. The stimulation began between 10^(-12) and 10^(-11) M and reached a maximum at 10^(-9) M, independent of any change in cell number. Specific quantitative yields and effect magnitudes were not reported in the abstract.
Why it matters
These findings identify a direct mechanistic pathway by which low concentrations of GHK-Cu promote fibroblast collagen production, supporting its hypothesized role in wound healing.
Limits
This is strictly an in vitro bench study without in vivo validation. The abstract does not report the cell origin (human vs. animal), sample size/replicates, or exact percentage increases in collagen synthesis.
Cited by
- supports GHK-Cu is a tripeptide made of glycine, histidine, and lysine complexed with copper, naturally present in type 1 collagen fibers.