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GHK-Cu with KPV

Mechanism-tag overlap and published literature for GHK-Cu and KPV, pulled verbatim from each Kalios compound profile. Kalios is a literature reference, not a recommendation.

Mechanism overlap

Mechanism tags are verbatim labels on each compound's profile. Generic tags ("peptide", "small-molecule", "research-chemical") are excluded from this overlap view. Tags are descriptive — not an inference about combined effect.

GHK-CU KPV 2 UNIQUE TAGS 1 UNIQUE TAGS 0 SHARED
GHK-Cu unique connective-tissuecopper-tripeptide-skin
Shared none
KPV unique alpha-msh-c-terminal-anti-inflammatory-tripeptide

Co-administration notes from the literature

Verbatim summary text pulled from each compound's profile data. Researchers studying GHK-Cu and KPV have published these mechanism-level observations. Not a co-administration recommendation.

Evidence level: mechanistic only

Topical applications for skin inflammation; systemic for connective tissue support. Layered with KPV in skin-focused protocols.

Quick facts

GHK-Cu

RouteTopical > SubQ
Half-lifeMinutes (plasma); longer topical residence
FDA statusCosmetic ingredient; Category 2 for injection
WADANot specifically named; plausibly S0 by analogy
Full GHK-Cu profile →

KPV

RouteOral (PepT1) / SubQ / topical
Half-lifeShort plasma; PepT1 tissue retention
FDA statusNot approved
WADANot listed
Full KPV profile →

Literature table

Classified references from each compound profile. Click a column header to sort. Click a PMID to open PubMed. Findings are quoted verbatim from each profile's literature_summary; nothing here is added or interpreted.

Year Compound Source Finding
1995GHK-CuBuffoni F, Pino R, Dal Pozzo A. Effect of tripeptide-copper complexes on the process of healing of cutaneous wounds in mice. Arch Int Pharmacodyn Ther. 1995;330(3):345-360. PMID: 9060874. PMID 9060874preclinical, in vivo
1993GHK-CuMaquart FX, Bellon G, Chaqour B, Wegrowski J, Patt LM, Trachy RE, et al. In vivo stimulation of connective tissue accumulation by the tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu²⁺ in rat experimental wounds. J Clin Invest. 1993;92(5):2368-2376. PMID: 8227353. PMID 8227353preclinical, in vivo
2011GHK-CuHostynek JJ, Dreher F, Maibach HI. Human skin penetration of a copper tripeptide in vitro as a function of skin layer. Inflamm Res. 2011;60(1):79-86. PMID: 20835751. PMID 20835751preclinical, in vitro
2007GHK-CuPyo HK, Yoo HG, Won CH, Lee SH, Kang YJ, Eun HC, Cho KH, Kim KH. The effect of tripeptide-copper complex on human hair growth in vitro. Arch Pharm Res. 2007;30(7):834-839. PMID: 17702486. PMID 17702486preclinical, in vitro
1988GHK-CuMaquart 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. PMID: 3169264. PMID 3169264preclinical, in vitro
2017GHK-CuPickart L, Vasquez-Soltero JM, Margolina A. The Effect of the Human Peptide GHK on Gene Expression Relevant to Nervous System Function and Cognitive Decline. Brain Sci. 2017;7(2):20. PMID: 28212278. PMID 28212278mechanism / discovery
2012GHK-CuCampbell JD, McDonough JE, Zeskind JE, Hackett TL, Pechkovsky DV, Brandsma CA, et al. A gene expression signature of emphysema-related lung destruction and its reversal by the tripeptide GHK. Genome Med. 2012;4(8):67. PMID: 22937864. PMID 22937864mechanism / discovery
1973GHK-CuPickart 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. PMID: 4351857. (Original discovery publication.) PMID 4351857mechanism / discovery
2026GHK-CuWADA Prohibited List 2026. World Anti-Doping Agency. wada-ama.org.regulatory / registry
2025GHK-CuFDA. Bulk Drug Substances That Raise Significant Safety Risks (Category 2) Under Section 503A / 503B. FDA.gov. Updated 2025-2026.regulatory / registry
2018GHK-CuPickart 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. PMID: 29986520. doi:10.3390/ijms19071987. (Comprehensive modern review.) PMID 29986520research article
2015GHK-CuPickart 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. PMID: 26236730. PMID 26236730research article
2016KPVViennois E, Ingersoll SA, Ayyadurai S, et al. Critical Role of PepT1 in Promoting Colitis-Associated Cancer and Therapeutic Benefits of the Anti-inflammatory PepT1-Mediated Tripeptide KPV in a Murine Model. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2016;2(3):340-357.preclinical, in vivo
2014KPVXiao B, Laroui H, Viennois E, et al. Nanoparticles with surface antibody against CD98 and carrying CD98 small interfering RNA reduce colitis in mice. Gastroenterology. 2014;146(5):1289-1300.e1-19.preclinical, in vivo
2010KPVKannengiesser K, Lügering A, Maaser C, Domschke W, Luger TA, Kucharzik T. Treatment of murine colitis with the tripeptide KPV-review of recent findings. Falk Symp. 2010.preclinical, in vivo
2008KPVKannengiesser K, Maaser C, Heidemann J, Luegering A, Ross M, Brzoska T, Bohm M, Luger TA, Domschke W, Kucharzik T. Melanocortin-derived tripeptide KPV has anti-inflammatory potential in murine models of inflammatory bowel disease. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2008;14(3):324-331. PMID: 180… PMID 18092346preclinical, in vivo
2008KPVBrzoska T, Luger TA, Maaser C, Abels C, Böhm M. α-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone and related tripeptides: biochemistry, antiinflammatory and protective effects in vitro and in vivo, and future perspectives for the treatment of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. Endocr Rev. 2… PMID 18612027preclinical, in vivo
2013KPVCoco R, Plapied L, Pourcelle V, Jérôme C, Brayden DJ, Schneider YJ, Préat V. Drug delivery to inflamed colon by nanoparticles: comparison of different strategies. Int J Pharm. 2013;440(1):3-12. PMID: 22939963. PMID 22939963research article
2009KPVCapsoni F, Ongari AM, Reali E, Catania A. Melanocortin peptides inhibit urate crystal-induced activation of phagocytic cells. Arthritis Res Ther. 2009;11(5):R151. PMID: 19814815. PMID 19814815research article
2008KPVDalmasso G, Charrier-Hisamuddin L, Nguyen HT, Yan Y, Sitaraman S, Merlin D. PepT1-mediated tripeptide KPV uptake reduces intestinal inflammation. Gastroenterology. 2008;134(1):166-178. PMID: 18061177. PMID 18061177research article

Related pair pages

More research context

Frequently asked

Have GHK-Cu and KPV been studied together?

Researchers have published mechanistic-level co-administration discussion of GHK-Cu and KPV. No human co-administration trials are catalogued in the Kalios profiles. The pair page lists each compound's classified literature; full citations sit on each individual profile.

What mechanisms do GHK-Cu and KPV share?

GHK-Cu and KPV do not share a specific mechanism tag on their Kalios profiles. They appear on the same pair page because at least one profile lists the other in its co-administration data.

What is the FDA status of GHK-Cu and KPV?

GHK-Cu: Cosmetic ingredient; Category 2 for injection. KPV: Not approved. FDA-status text is pulled verbatim from each compound profile. See /fda-pcac-2026.html for the broader FDA Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee context.

Where can I find the full research on GHK-Cu and KPV?

Full citation lists, dosing tables from the literature, reconstitution data, and the FDA / WADA status are on the individual compound profiles: the GHK-Cu profile and the KPV profile. The Kalios Stack Research Tool hub lists every compound covered.

Last updated: April 2026