The potential of GHK as an anti-aging peptide | Dou | Aging Pathobiology and Therapeutics

The potential of GHK as an anti-aging peptide

Yan Dou, Amanda Lee, Lida Zhu, John Morton, Warren Ladiges

Abstract


GHK (glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine) is a naturally occurring peptide found in human serum with levels averaging 200 ng/ml at age 20 but declining to an average of 80 ng/ml by age 60. The molecule has a very high affinity for copper and forms the chelate GHK-Cu. The peptide as well as its Cu (II) chelate have anti-inflammatory and tissue remodeling properties. GHK-Cu has been shown to promote skin remodeling, wound healing and regeneration, and has prominent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in in vitro and in vivo studies. In addition, preliminary observations suggest GHK can partially reverse cognitive impairment in aging mice by targeting anti-inflammatory and epigenetic pathways. The evidence as presented provides the rationale to further investigate this naturally occurring peptide in preclinical and clinical aging studies.

Keywords: GHK peptide, GHK-Cu chelate, anti-aging, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, age-related cognitive impairment





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