Effect of Gly-Gly-His, Gly-His-Lys and their copper complexes on TNF-alpha-dependent IL-6 secretion in normal human dermal fibroblasts

Gruchlik A, Jurzak M, Chodurek E, Dzierzewicz Z · Acta Poloniae Pharmaceutica

TNF-α raised IL-6 secretion almost fourfold, and GHK, GGH, their copper complexes and CuCl2 each reduced that TNF-α-dependent secretion at both peptide concentrations. The commercial saccharomyces/copper ferment did not: 10% had no effect and 1% reached p=0.051. The authors read the peptide results as grounds for topical copper peptides as an alternative to corticosteroids in skin inflammation.

Population

Normal human dermal fibroblasts stimulated with TNF-α

Intervention

GHK and GGH at 1 nM and 1 µM, their copper complexes, and a commercial saccharomyces/copper ferment at 1% and 10%, over 72 hours

Comparator

TNF-α alone; CuCl2 alone

Limitations

Single cytokine, single cell type, six wells per condition, ELISA only. Free copper chloride reproduced the effect, so the peptide is not shown to be necessary — and the one copper source that is sold as a cosmetic ingredient rather than mixed in the lab is the arm that did nothing. Funded by the Medical University of Silesia.