Study summary · research use only
Glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2(+) (GHK-Cu) Attenuates CuSO(4) or LPS induced-inflammation in Zebrafish larvae model
Plain-language summary
Paraphrased from the published abstract below — not a verdict on whether anything works.
In this zebrafish larvae study, researchers examined whether the tripeptide complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+ (GHK-Cu) affects acute inflammation induced by copper sulfate (CuSO4) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The abstract reports that GHK-Cu decreased migration of neutrophils and macrophages, lowered expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines tnf-a, il-1β, and il6, and increased expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine il-10. GHK-Cu was also associated with reduced nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and pathway analysis showed downregulation of the JAK1 pathway following GHK-Cu administration.
Abstract
Inflammation serves as a basic defense mechanism against both internal and external threats, while the unresolved or excessive inflammation can lead to irreversible tissue damage. Glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+ (GHK-Cu), a bioactive tripeptide complex known for its anti-aging and tissue repair properties, is extensively utilized in dermatological and hair care formulations. However, the role of GHK-Cu in regulating inflammation is less known. In this study, we explored the anti-inflammatory effects of GHK-Cu against the acute inflammation induced by copper sulfate (CuSO4) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in zebrafish larvae. GHK-Cu notably decreased the migration of neutrophils and macrophages, suppressed the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (tnf-a, il-1β, il6) and increased the expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine il-10. Moreover, GHK-Cu mitigated oxidative stress by reducing levels of nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), and improved superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Furthermore, pathway analysis revealed that GHK-Cu administration downregulated the JAK1 pathway. In summary, this study highlights the dual role of GHK-Cu in both anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties, which provides the theoretical evidences supporting its addition as a functional cosmetic ingredient.
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