Loren Pickart, Ph.D.
Skin Biology Research
Discovered GHK in plasma (1973); foundational copper-peptide gene-modulation work.
GHK-Cu is a naturally occurring copper-binding tripeptide found in human plasma that acts as a signal peptide, upregulating genes for collagen, elastin, and glycosaminoglycan synthesis while suppressing inflammation and oxidative stress. It has been extensively documented in dermatology research for skin density, wrinkle reduction, and hair follicle repair.
Mechanism of action
- Modulates expression of thousands of human genes tied to repair and inflammation.
- Upregulates collagen, elastin, and proteoglycan synthesis in dermal models.
- Demonstrates antioxidant activity and copper-delivery functions in cell-signaling studies.
Research highlights
- Discovered in human plasma by Loren Pickart in 1973.
- MDPI Cosmetics (2018) review documents anti-aging, anti-cancer, and antioxidative data.
- IJMS / MDPI (2025) review positions GHK-Cu as a targeted alternative to macromolecular growth factors for inflammatory conditions.