Stimulation of collagen synthesis in fibroblast cultures by the tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+.
Glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine (GHK) is a tripeptide with affinity for copper(II) ions and was isolated from human plasma. This peptide appears to play a physiological role in wound healing. We report the stimulating effect of GHK-Cu on collagen synthesis by fibroblasts. The stimulation began between 10(-12) and 10(-11) M, maximized at 10(-9) M, and was independent of any change in cell number. The presence of a GHK triplet in the alpha 2(I) chain of type I collagen suggests that the tripeptide might be liberated by proteases at the site of a wound and exert in situ healing effects.
Maquart
F X
FX
Laboratoire de Biochimie, CNRS URA 84, Faculté de Médecine, Reims, France.
Pickart
L
L
Laurent
M
M
Gillery
P
P
Monboisse
J C
JC
Borel
J P
JP
D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D003094:Collagen / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D006133:Growth Substances; D006801:Humans; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011347:Procollagen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011392:Proline / Q000378:metabolism; D014945:Wound Healing
D006133:Growth Substances; D009842:Oligopeptides; D011347:Procollagen; C020905:glycyl-histidyl-lysine; D003094:Collagen; D011392:Proline