GHK-Cu Shows Significant Anti-Inflammatory Effects in Experimental Colitis Model

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, are chronic conditions characterized by persistent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, leading to severe symptoms and impaired quality of life. Current treatments often have significant side effects or limited efficacy for some patients, highlighting an urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies. This study investigated the potential beneficial effects of GHK-Cu on an experimental model of colitis and elucidated its underlying mechanisms.

Treatment with GHK-Cu significantly ameliorated colitis symptoms and reduced inflammation in a dose-dependent manner. The 3 mg/kg dose of GHK-Cu reduced the disease activity index (DAI) by 55% (p<0.001) compared to the untreated control group, indicating a substantial improvement in clinical signs. > Histopathological analysis revealed a 70% reduction in colonic tissue damage scores in the high-dose GHK-Cu group (p<0.001), demonstrating potent tissue-protective effects. Furthermore, GHK-Cu treatment significantly decreased the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-6 in colonic tissue by 40% and 35% respectively (p<0.01). The peptide also enhanced gut barrier integrity by increasing the expression of tight junction proteins ZO-1 and occludin by 2.1-fold and 1.8-fold (p<0.05), suggesting a mechanism involving barrier restoration.