Ingredient or product comparison
GHK-Cu MMP Regulation — Isoform Comparison
MMP-1 (collagenase-1) Collagen I, III, VII, X 2.5× higher than young tissue −40% to −55% mRNA expression Inhibited by TIMP-1 Primary driver of dermal collagen loss; overexpressed in photoaged skin and chronic wounds MMP-2 (gelatinase A) Denatured collagen (gel
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- MMP-1 (collagenase-1)
- Collagen I, III, VII, X
- 2.5× higher than young tissue
- −40% to −55% mRNA expression
- Inhibited by TIMP-1
- Primary driver of dermal collagen loss; overexpressed in photoaged skin and chronic wounds
- MMP-2 (gelatinase A)
- Denatured collagen (gelatin), elastin, fibronectin
- 1.8× higher than young tissue
- −15% to −25% activity
- Inhibited by TIMP-2
- Elevated in fibrotic tissue and during impaired wound healing
- MMP-3 (stromelysin-1)
- Proteoglycans, laminin, fibronectin, pro-MMP-1
- 2.0× higher than young tissue
- −30% to −40% mRNA expression
- Activates other MMPs; central to cascade amplification in inflammatory states
- MMP-9 (gelatinase B)
- Gelatin, collagen IV, V
- Highly variable; spikes in acute inflammation
- −20% to −35% in inflammatory fibroblasts
- Marker of acute tissue damage; less responsive to GHK-Cu than MMP-1/3