AHK-Cu

AHK-Cu is the copper complex of L-alanyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine. The defensible direct evidence is narrow but relevant: a peer-reviewed study tested AHK-Cu on isolated human hair follicles ex vivo and cultured human dermal papilla cells in vitro. AHK-Cu at low concentrations stimulated hair follicle elongation and dermal papilla cell proliferation, and mechanistic assays suggested effects on apoptosis-related markers in dermal papilla cells. This supports discussion of AHK-Cu as a hair-follicle and dermal-papilla research peptide, especially for laboratory models of follicle growth signaling. It does not support strong clinical claims or generalization from better-studied copper peptides such as GHK-Cu.

Hair-Follicle Model

In an ex vivo human hair follicle model, AHK-Cu stimulated follicle elongation at low experimental concentrations ^[1].

Dermal Papilla Cell Research

In cultured human dermal papilla cells, AHK-Cu increased cell proliferation and affected apoptosis-associated markers ^[1].

Evidence Boundary

The evidence supports laboratory hair-biology research, not proven clinical hair-growth efficacy ^[1].

Direct Evidence Is Ex Vivo/In Vitro

AHK-Cu has direct evidence mainly from ex vivo and in vitro systems; these data do not establish human safety or clinical efficacy ^[1].

Copper-Peptide Specificity

Claims from GHK-Cu or other copper peptides should not be treated as interchangeable with AHK-Cu without direct comparative evidence.