Exploring the Beneficial Effects of GHK-Cu on an Experimental Model of Colitis and the Underlying Mechanisms

Plain-language summary

This in vivo and in vitro study investigated GHK-Cu's therapeutic mechanisms in ulcerative colitis (UC), a chronic inflammatory bowel disease characterized by mucosal damage and impaired barrier function. Researchers found that GHK-Cu significantly upregulated SIRT1 expression in colon tissues, identifying it as a novel potential SIRT1 activator, and demonstrated that it modulates STAT3-mediated inflammatory signaling. The findings suggest GHK-Cu may offer a targeted anti-inflammatory mechanism relevant to gut mucosal protection.