GHK-Cu in experimental colitis
Exploring the beneficial effects of GHK-Cu on an experimental model of colitis and the underlying mechanisms.
Mao S, Huang J, Li J, Sun F, Zhang Q, Cheng Q, Zeng W, Lei D, Wang S, Yao J. · Frontiers in pharmacology
Study record
- Population
32 male BALB/c mice, ages 6–8 weeks; eight per group. Additional mouse-cell experiments.
Read source · Full-text reportMethods 2.2–2.3; 2.9- Formulation
GHK-Cu reagent; supplier and exact preparation not identified in the inspected reagent/method sections.
Inspect extraction gap · Full-text reportMethods 2.1–2.3- Route
Oral gavage in mice; separate cell exposures.
Read source · Full-text reportMethods 2.3; 2.9–2.11- Dose & frequency
20 mg/kg daily in mice; establishes no human or KLOW regimen. Cell exposures are separate concentrations.
Read source · Full-text reportMethods 2.3; 2.11- Study design
Randomized four-group experiment: control, DSS, DSS plus 5-ASA, DSS plus GHK-Cu; separate cell and pathway experiments.
Read source · Full-text reportMethods 2.3; 2.9–2.14- Duration
14 days of gavage; euthanasia day 15. Full methods specify DSS for 12 days followed by two days of water.
Read source · Full-text reportMethods 2.3- Reported findings
Improved selected disease-activity, colon-injury and inflammatory measures; SIRT1/STAT3 findings explored possible mechanisms.
Read source · Full-text reportResults 3.1–3.8- Adverse events
No human safety assessment. Disease-model improvement is not a systematic clinical toxicity evaluation.
Read source · Full-text reportMethods 2.2–2.14- Monitoring
Daily disease-activity observations, tissue histology and molecular assays.
Read source · Full-text reportMethods 2.4–2.14
What it supports
Preclinical findings about copper-bound GHK in colitis models.
What it does not establish
No human or blend treatment trial. Abstract simplifies DSS exposure to 14 days; full methods specify 12 days plus two days of water. A pathway association does not establish a direct receptor target.
Funding
Jining and Shandong research funding; authors declared no commercial/financial conflicts (Funding; Conflict of interest).
Literature search cutoff: 2026-09-08 · Not independently clinically reviewed
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