Selected Biomarkers Revealed Potential Skin Toxicity Caused by Certain Copper Compounds

Li H, Toh PZ, Tan JY, Zin MT, Lee CY, Li B, Leolukman M, Bao H, Kang L · Scientific Reports

GHK-Cu was not cytotoxic and moved none of the skin-irritation biomarkers. Copper chloride and copper acetate significantly upregulated IL-1α, IL-8, HSPA1A and FOSL1 at 58 and 580 µM without reducing viability. Chelating copper inside the peptide lowers its irritancy.

Population

Keratinocyte-based skin-irritation model

Intervention

GHK-Cu, copper chloride and copper acetate at matched concentrations

Comparator

Untreated keratinocytes

Limitations

Topical irritation only. Says nothing about systemic or injected exposure, or about copper balance over time.