Conference on Tissue Connective Matrix

Prague, Czech Republic

May 19, 2000
 

Copper Peptide Tissue Regeneration: Biology and Clinical Uses
Loren Pickart, Skin Biology Inc., Bellevue, WA, USA
(Email - customerservice@skinbiology.com)

Numerous products based on copper peptide complexes are increasingly finding clinical and cosmeceutical uses.  The biological basis for these actions is GHK, a peptide generated during tissue damage that has a very high affinity for copper(2+).  GHK-Cu is also a normal constituent in human plasma existing at approximately 200 ng/ml at age 20 and dropping to 80 ng/ml at age 60.

GHK-Cu, at hormonal levels, is a chemoattractant for repair cells and activates a plethora of regenerative activities (angiogenesis, production of collagen, elastin, proteoglycans, glycosaminoglycans, etc) plus activation of metalloproteinases involved in tissue remodeling.  Copper-peptide complexes are used to stimulate the repair of damaged skin and bone, the healing of ulcerated stomach and intestinal linings (e.g. inflammatory bowel disease), improve the take of hair transplants and stimulate hair growth.  In aged human skin, copper peptide creams thicken skin, improve elasticity, and increase the density of the subcutaneous fat layer. GHK-Cu blocks ferritin channels and the release of tissue damaging free (oxidative) iron after tissue injury, thus blocking iron catalyzed lipid peroxidation that often occurs after injury and also interleukin-1 damage to pancreatic islet cells at 10exp(-10)M.  The three dimensional structure of GHK-Cu is strikingly similar to many pharmaceutical anti-ulcer (stomach) medicines.

Two potential uses for copper peptides that deserve more study are (1) the reduction of scars and skin lesions and (2) the systemic activation of wound healing prior to surgical procedures.

References to the above can be found at www.skinbiology.com/copperpeptideregeneration.html.

Return to www.skinbiology.com/copperpeptideregeneration.html
 
 
 122607FP