Peptides›Cosmetic›AHK-Cu

AHK-Cu

/ Copper-binding tripeptide; alanyl-histidyl-lysine copper complex (analog of GHK-Cu)

TIER 3 · PreclinicalN = 0 · TESTING PENDING

ALIAS · AHK-Cu · Alanyl-Histidyl-Lysine Copper · AHK copper tripeptide

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Research use onlyAny dose figures below describe what specific cited studies used, reported factually. Nothing on this page is guidance for human use.READ FIRST →

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§ A · Identity

Primary sequenceAHK (with Cu2+ coordinated)

MW · —CLASS · Copper-binding tripeptide; alanyl-histidyl-lysine copper complex (analog of GHK-Cu)CATEGORY · Cosmetic

Tier 3. AHK-Cu is the alanyl-histidyl-lysine copper(II) tripeptide complex, a structural analog of the better-studied GHK-Cu (glycyl-histidyl-lysine copper). Established research peptide in the Pickart group's wider copper-tripeptide programme, with specific interest in hair-follicle biology — proliferation of dermal papilla cells and follicle protein expression in vitro. Less-studied than GHK-Cu and with a smaller indexed-literature footprint.

§ B · Mechanism of action

AHK-Cu is a copper(II) chelate of the synthetic tripeptide alanyl-histidyl-lysine. As with the related GHK-Cu, the histidine and amide nitrogens coordinate the copper centre, producing a soluble peptide-copper complex with redox and signalling activities distinct from either the free peptide or free copper alone. The principal published activity in the cosmetic and dermatological literature concerns dermal papilla cell proliferation and modulation of hair-follicle-associated gene expression in vitro, with proposed application to hair-loss endpoints.

§ C · Human clinical evidence

Tier 3 (animal / in vitro). The published characterisation is principally in-vitro cell-culture work on dermal papilla cells and rodent follicle preparations, in continuity with the Pickart group's broader copper-tripeptide programme. Human-trial data specific to AHK-Cu are limited.

§ D · Primary literature

PubMed26236730Pickart L et al. — GHK Peptide as a Natural Modulator of Multiple Cellular Pathways in Skin Regeneration · BioMed Research International · reviewComprehensive review by the originating Pickart group of GHK-Cu and related copper-tripeptide pharmacology, including the AHK-Cu analog, across skin regeneration and hair-follicle pathways.Limitations: Narrative review by the originating group; selection bias toward positive findings; not a primary trial.2015

§ F · Safety signal

No formal independent human safety database for AHK-Cu specifically. Class-level safety inference from GHK-Cu (which has more substantial cosmetic-use exposure) is the closest available proxy and is not a substitute for direct AHK-Cu data.

§ H · Regulatory status

Regulatory status

FDA status:: Not FDA-approved

§ I · Notable gaps and controversies

The specific evidence base for AHK-Cu is much thinner than that for the parent GHK-Cu, although vendor and review literature commonly conflates the two. Independent replication outside the originating research lineage is limited. Topical formulation, copper-loading, and stability of vendor product are not tightly constrained by any external standard.