Exploring the beneficial effects of GHK-Cu on an experimental model of colitis and the underlying mechanisms

作者：Shuzhen Mao, Jiahui Huang, Junyan Li, Fang Sun, Qilian Zhang, Qing Cheng, Wei Zeng, Dongya Lei, Shiyan Wang, Jing Yao · 发表于：Frontiers in Pharmacology · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.3389/fphar.2025.1551843 · 被引用次数：4 · 研究领域：Inflammatory Bowel Disease、Barrier Structure and Function Studies、Sirtuins and Resveratrol in Medicine

Introduction: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) characterized by mucosal damage and impaired epithelial barrier function. While glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine-copper (GHK-Cu) exhibits known anti-inflammatory properties, its therapeutic mechanisms in UC remain undefined. This study was designed to systematically evaluate the therapeutic potential of GHK-Cu in a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced murine model of UC, with particular emphasis on elucidating its regulatory effects on the NAD-dependent deacetylase sirtuin-1 (SIRT1)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway. Methods: UC was induced in BALB/c mice with 3% DSS for 14 days. The protein expression levels of tight junction associated protein-1 (ZO-1), Occludin, inflammatory factors interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, SIRT1, STAT3, p-STAT3, and retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor gamma t (RORγt) were detected by Western blot. Histopathological changes were evaluated by Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) and Alcian blue-periodic acid-Schiff (AB-PAS). Network pharmacology and molecular docking were used to predict the core targets of GHK Cu in the treatment of UC. An in vitro UC model was also established in mouse peritoneal macrophages (MPMs) using lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and a co culture model was constructed using mouse colonic epithelial cells (MCECs) and MPMs to examine the role of GHK Cu in promoting mucosal healing. ST...