GHK-Cu & Klow-80 in ageing research
A literature summary. Summarises published literature for educational purposes.
What is GHK-Cu?
GHK is a naturally occurring tripeptide made of three amino acids: glycine–histidine–lysine (Gly-His-Lys). It binds copper(II) ions with high affinity, forming the complex GHK-Cu (copper tripeptide-1). GHK was first isolated from human plasma by Pickart and Thaler in 1973, who reported that it altered the survival and growth of liver cells in culture [1].
| Property | Detail |
|---|---|
| Sequence | Gly-His-Lys, complexed with Cu(II) |
| Molecular formula (GHK-Cu) | C14H22CuN6O4 |
| Molar mass | approx. 401.9 g/mol |
| Form supplied | Lyophilised powder (blue, owing to the copper complex) |
Why GHK-Cu appears in ageing research
GHK-Cu is studied in ageing biology for three main reasons:
1. Extracellular matrix studies (in vitro).
In fibroblast cultures, GHK-Cu was reported to stimulate collagen synthesis [2]. Extracellular matrix turnover is a common topic in studies of tissue ageing, so this early finding is widely cited.
2. Gene-expression studies.
Campbell and colleagues (2012) compared gene-expression profiles from lung tissue with a public database of compound signatures (the Connectivity Map). GHK was identified as a compound whose expression signature ran opposite to the profile associated with emphysema-related tissue destruction. They then studied GHK in cultured lung fibroblasts [3]. Later reviews by Pickart and colleagues analysed Connectivity Map data and reported that GHK was associated with changes in the expression of a large number of human genes in those datasets [4,5].
3. Age-related differences in plasma GHK.
Reviews by Pickart and colleagues report lower plasma GHK concentrations in older individuals than in younger ones [4]. This observation comes from the group that first described GHK, and independent confirmation in the literature is limited.
Limitations of the evidence
- Most mechanistic data come from cell culture and gene-expression database analyses. Changes in gene expression do not by themselves show a functional outcome.
- Several of the main reviews come from one research group [4,5]. Readers should consult the primary studies.
- Findings in cell models cannot be extrapolated to effects in humans.
Klow-80: composition
Klow-80 is a multi-peptide research blend supplied in a single vial. It contains four peptides in fixed proportions, with GHK-Cu as the largest component.
| Peptide | Description | Amount | % of vial |
|---|---|---|---|
| GHK-Cu | Copper tripeptide complex (Gly-His-Lys-Cu) | 50mg | 62.5% |
| BPC-157 | Synthetic pentadecapeptide (15 amino acids) | 10mg | 12.5% |
| TB-500 | Synthetic research peptide | 10mg | 12.5% |
| KPV | Tripeptide (Lys-Pro-Val) | 10mg | 12.5% |
| Total | 80mg | 100% |
The GHK-Cu literature summarised above concerns GHK-Cu studied on its own. The blend as a whole has not been the subject of published peer-reviewed studies that we are aware of. Klow-80 is listed here because of its GHK-Cu content and is supplied for in-vitro research only.
Research materials
GHK-Cu
Price: 50mg £21.99 · 100mg £32.99
Certificates of Analysis: 50mg, report LDA22160942 (tested 1 September 2026, HPLC purity >99.68%); 100mg, report LDA22160952 (tested 2 September 2026, >99.75%). Lingda Laboratory. View certificates on our Verification page
Klow-80
Price: 80mg £69.99
Certificate of Analysis: report LDA22161252 (Lingda Laboratory, tested 3 September 2026, HPLC purity >99.72%). View certificates on our Verification page
Research use only. This article summarises published scientific literature for educational purposes. It does not describe the effects of any Corex Vitality™ product. GHK-Cu and Klow-80 are supplied for laboratory research use only and are not intended for human or veterinary use, or for the diagnosis, treatment, prevention or cure of any disease or medical condition.
References
- Pickart L, Thaler MM. Tripeptide in human serum which prolongs survival of normal liver cells and stimulates growth in neoplastic liver. Nat New Biol. 1973;243(124):85-87. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/4349963/
- Maquart FX, Pickart L, Laurent M, Gillery P, Monboisse JC, Borel JP. Stimulation of collagen synthesis in fibroblast cultures by the tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+. FEBS Lett. 1988;238(2):343-346. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3169264/ · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0014-5793(88)80509-X
- Campbell JD, McDonough JE, Zeskind JE, et al. A gene expression signature of emphysema-related lung destruction and its reversal by the tripeptide GHK. Genome Med. 2012;4(8):67. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22937864/ · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/gm367
- Pickart L, Vasquez-Soltero JM, Margolina A. GHK peptide as a natural modulator of multiple cellular pathways in skin regeneration. Biomed Res Int. 2015;2015:648108. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26236730/ · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/648108
- Pickart L, Margolina A. Regenerative and protective actions of the GHK-Cu peptide in the light of the new gene data. Int J Mol Sci. 2018;19(7):1987. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29986520/ · DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19071987