Pair page
GHK-Cu with Pentapeptide-18
Mechanism-tag overlap and published literature for GHK-Cu and Pentapeptide-18, 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.
connective-tissuecopper-tripeptide-skin
cosmetic-peptideenkephalin-analog
Co-administration notes from the literature
Verbatim summary text pulled from each compound's profile data. Researchers studying GHK-Cu and Pentapeptide-18 have published these mechanism-level observations. Not a co-administration recommendation.
A copper-binding tripeptide with well-characterized signaling effects on dermal ECM remodeling, collagen synthesis, antioxidant defense, and wound healing. Complementary to the neuromuscular-peptide pair above: Leuphasyl + Argireline address dynamic-wrinkle generation; GHK-Cu addresses dermal quality and resilience. Many high-end multi-peptide serums include all three classes.
Quick facts
GHK-Cu
Pentapeptide-18
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | GHK-Cu | Buffoni 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 9060874 | preclinical, in vivo |
| 1993 | GHK-Cu | Maquart 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 8227353 | preclinical, in vivo |
| 2011 | GHK-Cu | Hostynek 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 20835751 | preclinical, in vitro |
| 2007 | GHK-Cu | Pyo 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 17702486 | preclinical, in vitro |
| 1988 | GHK-Cu | 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. PMID: 3169264. PMID 3169264 | preclinical, in vitro |
| 2017 | GHK-Cu | Pickart 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 28212278 | mechanism / discovery |
| 2012 | GHK-Cu | Campbell 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 22937864 | mechanism / discovery |
| 1973 | GHK-Cu | 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. PMID: 4351857. (Original discovery publication.) PMID 4351857 | mechanism / discovery |
| 2026 | GHK-Cu | WADA Prohibited List 2026. World Anti-Doping Agency. wada-ama.org. | regulatory / registry |
| 2025 | GHK-Cu | FDA. Bulk Drug Substances That Raise Significant Safety Risks (Category 2) Under Section 503A / 503B. FDA.gov. Updated 2025-2026. | regulatory / registry |
| 2018 | GHK-Cu | 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. PMID: 29986520. doi:10.3390/ijms19071987. (Comprehensive modern review.) PMID 29986520 | research article |
| 2015 | GHK-Cu | 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. PMID: 26236730. PMID 26236730 | research article |
| 2013 | Pentapeptide-18 | Wang Y, Wang M, Xiao S, Pan P, Li P, Huo J. The anti-wrinkle efficacy of argireline, a synthetic hexapeptide, in Chinese subjects: a randomized, placebo-controlled study. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2013 Apr;14(2):147-153. doi:10.1007/s40257-013-0009-9. PMID: 23435580. (Placebo-controll… PMID 23435580 | human trial |
| 2014 | Pentapeptide-18 | Dragomirescu AO, Andoni M, Ionescu D, Andrei F. The Efficiency and Safety of Leuphasyl—A Botox-Like Peptide. Cosmetics. 2014;1(2):75-81. doi:10.3390/cosmetics1020075. (Only peer-reviewed open-label human efficacy paper specific to Pentapeptide-18; manufacturer-adjacent but metho… | human pilot |
| 1999 | Pentapeptide-18 | Acosta CG, López HS. delta opioid receptor modulation of several voltage-dependent Ca(2+) currents in rat sensory neurons. J Neurosci. 1999 Oct 1;19(19):8337-8348. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.19-19-08337.1999. PMID: 10493736; PMCID: PMC6783030. (Direct electrophysiological evidence th… PMID 10493736 | preclinical, in vivo |
| 2015 | Pentapeptide-18 | Kraeling ME, Zhou W, Wang P, Ogunsola OA. In vitro skin penetration of acetyl hexapeptide-8 from a cosmetic formulation. Cutan Ocul Toxicol. 2015 Mar;34(1):46-52. doi:10.3109/15569527.2014.894521. PMID: 24641245. (Permeation analog study — demonstrates that ~0.22% of topically a… PMID 24641245 | preclinical, in vitro |
| 2002 | Pentapeptide-18 | Blanes-Mira C, Clemente J, Jodas G, Gil A, Fernández-Ballester G, Ponsati B, Gutierrez L, Pérez-Payá E, Ferrer-Montiel A. A synthetic hexapeptide (Argireline) with antiwrinkle activity. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2002 Oct;24(5):303-310. doi:10.1046/j.1467-2494.2002.00153.x. PMID: 1849852… PMID 18498523 | mechanism / discovery |
| 1975 | Pentapeptide-18 | Hughes J, Smith TW, Kosterlitz HW, Fothergill LA, Morgan BA, Morris HR. Identification of two related pentapeptides from the brain with potent opiate agonist activity. Nature. 1975 Dec 18;258(5536):577-580. doi:10.1038/258577a0. PMID: 1207728. (The landmark Hughes & Kosterlitz p… PMID 1207728 | mechanism / discovery |
| 1977 | Pentapeptide-18 | Hughes J, Kosterlitz HW, Smith TW. The distribution of methionine-enkephalin and leucine-enkephalin in the brain and peripheral tissues. Br J Pharmacol. 1977 Dec;61(4):639-647. doi:10.1111/j.1476-5381.1977.tb07557.x. PMID: 597668. (Follow-up Hughes/Kosterlitz distribution paper… PMID 597668 | pharmacology |
| 2024 | Pentapeptide-18 | Cullen JM, Cascella M. Physiology, Enkephalin. StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024. PMID: 32491696. (Comprehensive physiology review of enkephalin structure, receptor pharmacology, and degradation — useful pharmacology reference for the Leuph… PMID 32491696 | review |
| 2022 | Pentapeptide-18 | Mortazavi SM, Moghimi HR. Skin permeability, a dismissed necessity for anti-wrinkle peptide performance. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2022 Apr;44(2):232-248. doi:10.1111/ics.12770. PMID: 35152433. (Independent review of the skin-permeation bottleneck that constrains all topical anti-wrinkl… PMID 35152433 | review |
| 2012 | Pentapeptide-18 | Reddy B, Jow T, Hantash BM. Bioactive oligopeptides in dermatology: Part I. Exp Dermatol. 2012 Aug;21(8):569-575. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0625.2012.01528.x. PMID: 22775991. (Dermatology-journal review of bioactive cosmetic oligopeptides including the neurotransmitter-affecting peptid… PMID 22775991 | review |
| 2009 | Pentapeptide-18 | Zhang L, Falla TJ. Cosmeceuticals and peptides. Clin Dermatol. 2009 Sep-Oct;27(5):485-494. doi:10.1016/j.clindermatol.2009.05.013. PMID: 19695481. (Foundational dermatology-journal review of cosmeceutical peptides that contextualizes Leuphasyl within the neurotransmitter-affecti… PMID 19695481 | review |
| 2005 | Pentapeptide-18 | Lipotec S.A. LEUPHASYL®: A New Pentapeptide for Expression Wrinkles. Technical dossier / formulator brochure. Barcelona: Lipotec; 2005. (Originator manufacturer dossier, widely re-cited across cosmetic industry literature; source of the 11.64% stand-alone and 24.62% Leuphasyl +… | industry documentation |
Related pair pages
More research context
Frequently asked
Have GHK-Cu and Pentapeptide-18 been studied together?
Researchers have published mechanistic-level co-administration discussion of GHK-Cu and Pentapeptide-18. 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 Pentapeptide-18 share?
GHK-Cu and Pentapeptide-18 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 Pentapeptide-18?
GHK-Cu: Cosmetic ingredient; Category 2 for injection. Pentapeptide-18: Cosmetic ingredient. 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 Pentapeptide-18?
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 Pentapeptide-18 profile. The Kalios Stack Research Tool hub lists every compound covered.
Last updated: April 2026