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Study · In vitro (cells) · 2026

4 results

Multi-Target Restoration of Dermal Elastic Fibers Through Elastin Upregulation, Elastase Suppression, and Scaffold Reinforcement.

Ye S, Kang S, Jeong ET, Jun SH, Kang NG

Current issues in molecular biology22 Apr 2026

PMID42193036 (opens in a new tab)PMCIDPMC13204052 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.3390/cimb48050431 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-42193036
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Summary

Elastic fibers are key components of the skin extracellular matrix and are essential for maintaining skin integrity and elasticity. During skin aging, particularly photoaging, elastic fiber integrity is progressively compromised by increased elastase activity and the downregulation of elastin and scaffold-related gene expression. Therefore, effective strategies to preserve elastic fiber function should address not only elastin synthesis but also enzymatic degradation and scaffold integrity. In this study, we investigated a multitarget approach to restoring the elastic fiber network by modulating elastin production, elastase activity, and scaffold protein expression. We found that Copper Tripeptide-1 enhanced elastin expression and secretion, ethyl ferulate inhibited elastase activity, and cedrol promoted scaffold-related gene expression and microfibrillar protein restoration in dermal fibroblasts. To assess the biological relevance of this approach, the combined treatment was evaluated using UV-damaged human skin biopsy samples. This combination effectively mitigated UV-induced elastic fiber disruption and significantly improved fiber architecture, as confirmed by immunofluorescence staining and scanning electron microscopy. These findings indicate that coordinated modulation of elastin production, proteolytic protection, and scaffold reinforcement is essential for maintaining elastic fiber integrity and represents a promising approach for preserving skin elasticity during aging.
CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study4

2 results from studies that gave the peptide. No result from this study comes from people.

  1. 01LabIn vitro (cells)Efficacy outcome

    In dermal fibroblasts, copper tripeptide-1 enhanced elastin expression.

    In plain wordsIn lab skin cells, copper tripeptide-1 increased the production of elastin.

    Peptide
    GHK-Cu
    Outcome
    IncreaseElastin expression
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Dermal fibroblasts
    Outcome group
    Skin and hair · Skin and wound
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    We found that Copper Tripeptide-1 enhanced elastin expression and secretion
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    in dermal fibroblasts.
    Summary · context
    In this study, we investigated a multitarget approach to restoring the elastic fiber network by modulating elastin production, elastase activity, and scaffold protein expression.
  2. 02LabIn vitro (cells)Efficacy outcome

    In dermal fibroblasts, copper tripeptide-1 enhanced elastin secretion.

    In plain wordsIn lab skin cells, copper tripeptide-1 increased the release of elastin.

    Peptide
    GHK-Cu
    Outcome
    IncreaseElastin secretion
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Dermal fibroblasts
    Outcome group
    Skin and hair · Skin and wound
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    We found that Copper Tripeptide-1 enhanced elastin expression and secretion
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    in dermal fibroblasts.
    Summary · context
    In this study, we investigated a multitarget approach to restoring the elastic fiber network by modulating elastin production, elastase activity, and scaffold protein expression.

Studies that did not test the peptide alone2

In this study, GHK-Cu was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. These results are not evidence about taking GHK-Cu.

  1. 03LabNot a test of GHK-Cu aloneEx vivo tissueEfficacy outcome

    In UV-damaged human skin biopsy samples, the combined treatment (copper tripeptide-1, ethyl ferulate and cedrol) mitigated UV-induced elastic fiber disruption.

    In plain wordsIn lab tests on UV-damaged human skin samples, a mix of three ingredients reduced damage to elastic fibers.

    Peptide
    GHK-Cu
    Outcome
    DecreaseUV-induced elastic fiber disruption
    Study

    humann: not reported in source

    UV-damaged human skin biopsy samples
    Outcome group
    Skin and hair · Skin and wound

    Source sentences

    Summary
    This combination effectively mitigated UV-induced elastic fiber disruption and significantly improved fiber architecture, as confirmed by immunofluorescence staining and scanning electron microscopy.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    To assess the biological relevance of this approach, the combined treatment was evaluated using UV-damaged human skin biopsy samples.

    In this study, GHK-Cu was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking GHK-Cu.

  2. 04LabNot a test of GHK-Cu aloneEx vivo tissueEfficacy outcome

    In UV-damaged human skin biopsy samples, the combined treatment (copper tripeptide-1, ethyl ferulate and cedrol) significantly improved fiber architecture.

    In plain wordsIn lab tests on UV-damaged human skin samples, a mix of three ingredients improved the structure of elastic fibers.

    Peptide
    GHK-Cu
    Outcome
    IncreaseElastic fiber architecture
    Study

    humann: not reported in source

    UV-damaged human skin biopsy samples
    Outcome group
    Skin and hair · Skin and wound

    Source sentences

    Summary
    This combination effectively mitigated UV-induced elastic fiber disruption and significantly improved fiber architecture, as confirmed by immunofluorescence staining and scanning electron microscopy.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    To assess the biological relevance of this approach, the combined treatment was evaluated using UV-damaged human skin biopsy samples.

    In this study, GHK-Cu was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking GHK-Cu.

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

  1. Version 3Current

    10 Oct 2026, 08:19 UTC

    Study results updated

  2. Version 2

    9 Oct 2026, 03:03 UTC

    Study data updated · source update from Europe PMC

  3. Version 1

    9 Oct 2026, 02:56 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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