Research on Mechanisms of Action

Several potential cellular effects of AHK-Cu have been tested in the laboratory. These studies are mainly directed to in vitro models with controlled experimental conditions.

Observed Mechanisms in Laboratory Studies

1. Growth Factor Expression Studies

One investigation published in the Archives of Pharmazie Research (2007) noted that the treatment with AHK-Cu in the culture of dermal papilla cells resulted in an upregulation of VEGF. These are experimental results, and more exploratory work is necessary to understand them. This structure of copper peptide appears to be necessary for activity on these cells.

2. Cellular Activity Research

In vitro studies were conducted using Human Fibroblast Cell Cultures to examine the effect of AHK-Cu. A few of the studies described possible alterations of the in vitro cell response and proliferation, although the in-vivo significance remains to be studied. Fibroblasts are important for keeping tissues healthy, researchers believe.

3. Molecular Interaction Studies

The possible interaction of AHK-Cu with cellular processes has been examined in vitro. These are early mechanistic studies, and they are very controlled. The lysine in the peptide could be one of the determinants of these interactions.

4. Antioxidant System Research

A few other studies evaluated the cellular anti-oxidant system and in particular levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in culture models. Outcomes are conflicting and need more investigations for validation. The presence of ROS is associated with increased tissue concentration of SOD.

Laboratory Studies: Skin Models

Studies of AHK-Cu have been conducted on a range of in vitro skin cell models and ex vivo tissue. These are efforts to see what the cellular reactions would be in a controlled setting.

Should you wish to know more about medical research on wound repair you might refer to the material for the National Center for Biotechnology Information.

Laboratory Studies: Follicular Research

Indeed, in the hair follicle in vitro models, the effects of AHK-Cu have been studied in different laboratory models, which imply the use of systems from organ culture to cellular assay.

Key Research Findings

1. Ex Vivo Follicle Studies

Human hair cysts in the culture dish was selected to check whether AHK-Cu had any effects on hair follicle and its correct size in growing. Such studies are performed, however in vitro under conditions that are far from being in vivo. Experiments hint at the potential for changes in dermal papilla cells — a key player in hair growth.

2. Cellular Proliferation Assays

In vitro studies using cultured follicle cells were performed to study AHK-Cu on enhanced proliferation and the hair growth patterns. It is hard to interpret these findings as they originate from the studies in cells in culture. More and more studies have been done in this area.

3. Molecular Pathway Studies

In some studies, studies at the molecular biology level were performed. The interaction with DHT-related pathways amounted to the anti-hair loss effect. These studies are performed with simplified model systems. The complex mechanisms are running, it would seem.

4. Gene Expression Analysis

In vitro, the gene expression and secreted factor secretion of follicle cells cultured in the presence of AHK-Cu were analysed by methods including RT-PCR. There are several interesting reports in this aspect by the dermatological researchers.

For additional information on approaches to hair follicle research, see the Journal of Investigative Dermatology.

Comparative Peptide Research

Naturally, scientists are constantly pitting AHK-Cu against other copper peptides, such as — particularly — GHK-Cu, and all their checkered clinical virtues, in laboratory experiments. All these peptides have Cu (copper) in them and the effects on the hair/skin health in the research models cannot be compared.

Research Methodologies

Every would-be scientist learning AHK-Cu tests in vitro properties under some conditions. If these concepts are grasped, it will assist in interpreting the findings of scientific papers. The results are method dependent.

Common Research Approaches

In Vitro Studies

• Cell culture systems: immortalized cell lines or primary human cultures in vitro in defined conditions
• Concentration Range: 0.1-10µM in culture media in most experiments
• Duration of exposure: 24 hr-weeks (depending on endpoint and stress condition)
• Purity requirements: Certified purity is a critical requirement for research grade AHK-Cu as the results need to be reproducible.

Ex Vivo Models

• Tissues: Human/Animal (ethical approval granted) tissues provided for research.
• Organ Culture: Hair or skin samples held in medium specially designed to analyze growth characteristics
• Methods of measurement: microscopy, biochemistry and molecular biology
• Delivery systems: Various delivery strategies for enhancing peptide penetration have been developed in tissue models

Animal Studies

• Inclusion criteria: Those most used mouse/rat models are being studied with ethical approval.
• Application: Topical or injection (for research purposes only)
• Longitudinal studies: Histology, gene expression and phenotype over time.
• Response assessment: How tissue responds to treatment relative to impact evaluation

For recommendations regarding peptide research protocol please refer to Peptide Sciences Research Protocol.

Research Conclusions

There is some wonderful information now available about copper peptide biology from a few studies of AHK-Cu, from my preliminary work, but there is an enormous amount yet to learn about copper peptide biology. Recent research on hair growth & hair follicle health has been very interesting. Some observations from the published laboratory literature:

• Interesting biological activities can be deduced from in vitro studies which may be the subject of investigation on human cell system - though these remain strictly laboratory findings
• Moreover, to compare directly peptides, the approaches of the research may be very different
• The majority reports are derived from in vitro or ex vivo models with considerable drawbacks and do not predict human outcomes
• Clinical applications are still in theoretical stage and need further investigation before any human relevance can be established
• Delivery and formulation systems will still be fundamental to advancing further in the future of laboratory research

The scientific community is researching these compounds to learn about their properties and applications in controlled laboratory settings. Research is also being done into how AHK-Cu might itself respond to disease and impact the health of the hair follicle in experimental models. But as with all lab work, it's always worth noting that what's discovered in a Petri dish isn't guaranteed to work as intended in the real world, and these findings do not translate to human use.