Compound · ghk-cu
T2Peptide

GHK-Cu

Naturally occurring copper-binding tripeptide (glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine) that declines with age. Activates tissue remodeling via metalloproteinase regulation, stimulates collagen and glycosaminoglycan synthesis, and attracts immune cells for repair. Modulates over 4,000 genes — suppressing fibrinogen and inflammatory markers while upregulating growth factors.

Half-life
Topical — local depot effect; systemic half-life poorly characterized
Bioavailability
Topical (skin penetration); subcutaneous (systemic)
Route
topical, subcutaneous
Evidence tier
T2 — Single-RCT or mechanistic
Optimization pillars
anti-aging · recovery
References
2 peer-reviewed
Dose ranges

Three tiers ordered by aggressiveness. Tier chips on every OPTIMIZE intervention let you filter the catalog by your evidence tolerance.

conservative
1–2 mg/day topical
Skin rejuvenation
moderate
200–500 mcg/day subcutaneous
Systemic tissue remodeling
aggressive
500–1000 mcg/day subcutaneous
Accelerated repair
Monitoring
  • hs-crp
  • iron-panel
Contraindications
  • copper-sensitivity
  • wilsons-disease
References
  • PMID:24508075GHK peptide as a natural modulator of multiple cellular pathways in skin regenerationBiomed Res Int, 2014
  • PMID:20886903The human tripeptide GHK-Cu in prevention of oxidative stress and degenerative conditionsOxid Med Cell Longev, 2012
Notes

GHK-Cu is the remodeling signal. Not growth. Not repair. Remodeling — the coordinated demolition and reconstruction of tissue architecture. The gene expression data is staggering in breadth. Over 4,000 genes modulated. The copper ion is not decoration. It is the catalytic center that drives metalloproteinase activity. Your body produces this peptide naturally and produces less of it every decade after 20. The topical applications have the most consumer data. The systemic applications have the most interesting mechanistic potential.

This is not medical advice

Discuss with a licensed clinician before starting, stopping, or changing any compound. This page documents what the research literature describes — it is not a prescription.

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