What is KPV, and what is it used for here?

KPV is the tripeptide Lys-Pro-Val, the C-terminal sequence of alpha-MSH, studied mainly for anti-inflammatory activity in cell and animal models. This product is sold only as a laboratory research chemical and is not a medicine; it is not intended for human or veterinary use. (In the wider market KPV has been promoted in other forms, but that is separate from how it is supplied here.)

What makes KPV different from the full alpha-MSH molecule?

KPV is a 3-amino-acid fragment of the 13-amino-acid alpha-MSH. In preclinical models it shows anti-inflammatory effects similar in kind to alpha-MSH, though published comparisons describe native KPV as less potent on a molar basis, while apparently lacking alpha-MSH's melanogenic (pigmenting) activity in the cited assays. Those are preclinical findings; effects in humans, including any pigmentation effect, have not been established.

Is KPV the same as Melanotan II, and does it cause tanning?

No. KPV (Lys-Pro-Val) is a short alpha-MSH fragment studied for anti-inflammatory activity, whereas Melanotan II is a different, cyclic alpha-MSH analogue developed around pigmentation. They are distinct molecules. In the cited preclinical assays KPV did not show the melanogenic activity of full-length alpha-MSH, but a human pigmentation effect has not been established either way.

Is KPV orally bioavailable?

Cell studies show KPV is taken up via the intestinal PepT1 transporter, and oral administration produced local effects in mouse colitis models. That is cellular uptake and a local gut effect, not the same as established systemic oral bioavailability, which has not been demonstrated; delivery-focused papers actually emphasise poor gastrointestinal stability and absorption of free KPV.

Has KPV been studied outside intestinal inflammation?

Beyond gut-inflammation models, KPV and related alpha-MSH peptides have been examined in preclinical skin-inflammation, wound-healing, antimicrobial and, more recently, neuroinflammation contexts. This body of work is preclinical (cell and animal), and it does not establish clinical effects for the isolated tripeptide in humans.

How does KPV's proposed mechanism differ from corticosteroids?

Both are studied in the context of dampening inflammatory signalling, but the mechanisms differ. Corticosteroids act largely through the glucocorticoid receptor and broad transcriptional changes; KPV's reported anti-inflammatory effect in the cited studies is associated with PepT1 uptake and reduced NF-kB/MAPK signalling and was reported as not melanocortin-receptor-mediated. KPV is a research compound, not a corticosteroid substitute, and no clinical comparison exists.

How does KPV differ from BPC-157 in inflammation and gut research?

They are unrelated molecules studied through different mechanisms: KPV is an alpha-MSH-derived tripeptide associated with PepT1 uptake and NF-kB signalling, while BPC-157 is a 15-amino-acid peptide studied mainly in tendon, muscle and gastrointestinal injury models. KPV has no published human study, while BPC-157 has predominantly preclinical evidence plus a few very small uncontrolled human pilot reports. Neither has an established human clinical effect, and they are not interchangeable.

Are there documented side effects or safety findings for KPV in research?

There is no established human safety profile for KPV, because controlled human studies of the isolated tripeptide have not been published. Some preclinical safety readouts describe engineered KPV conjugates (for example a proKPV construct with normal blood counts and organ histology over a short mouse study) rather than plain KPV, so they do not establish the safety of the unformulated research material. Any safety characterisation should be treated as preliminary.

Does KPV have FDA approval or an EU marketing authorisation?

No. No KPV medicine has FDA approval or an EU marketing authorisation. FDA formally evaluated KPV free base and KPV acetate for the 503A Bulks List and proposed that neither be included. That compounding-list evaluation is not a drug approval, and FDA stated that its final determination would follow the advisory process. This product is supplied strictly as a research chemical, not a medicine.

Is KPV legal to purchase for research purposes in the EU?

There is no single EU-wide category for research peptides, so legality is not uniform. Whether KPV may be purchased, possessed and used depends on the product's presentation, the intended use, and each member state's national rules, which can differ. We sell strictly for laboratory research and not for human consumption; confirm the rules with your national competent authority and your institution, and treat this as general information, not legal advice.

Who tests KPV batches, and is it independent or GMP-certified?

The current published KPV records are a manufacturer-supplied Janoshik report (Purple batch) and a community-submitted Kovera Labs report (Black cap batch); PeptidesDirect commissioned neither, and no GMP certification is claimed for the research-grade material. Check which laboratory issued a given report, match the lot number to the vial, and see the current certificates at /coa.

How can researchers verify the purity and identity of a KPV batch?

Match the lot number on the vial to the certificate, read the reported HPLC purity result and the mass-spectrometry result (an intact-mass match supports but does not by itself prove exact sequence identity), and note which laboratory issued the report and whether it was manufacturer-supplied or community-submitted. Where the lab offers a verification link or code, cross-check the report against its own records.

What doses were used in KPV research?

No controlled human dosing protocol has been published for KPV. In preclinical work, Dalmasso et al. used oral administration in mouse colitis models, and cell studies commonly use concentrations in the roughly 10 to the minus 8 to 10 to the minus 6 molar range. Community research protocols circulate low-hundreds-of-micrograms subcutaneous figures (often cited around 100 to 500 µg); those are self-reported and unvalidated. These figures are references, not a recommendation, and do not convert into a human protocol.

How is KPV reconstituted for laboratory use?

Add a validated solvent slowly down the vial wall and mix by gentle swirling rather than vigorous shaking. A syringe is used only as a laboratory measuring tool to add solvent and withdraw aliquots for research, not for injection into a person or animal. Follow the specific product's documentation for the solvent and concentration; there is no validated fixed post-reconstitution shelf life, so treat a reconstituted vial as a short-lived working solution.

Buy KPV: The Anti-Inflammatory Tripeptide for Research

Q: Does plain unformulated KPV work orally, or does it need a delivery system?

Much of the oral-efficacy research used engineered delivery systems rather than plain KPV. A large potency advantage sometimes quoted comes from Laroui et al. (2010, PMID 19909746), which used non-functionalized KPV nanoparticles in an alginate-chitosan hydrogel, and later work used other nanoparticle systems. These findings describe formulated KPV, so they should not be read as the behaviour of unformulated research-grade KPV.

Q: What did the Dalmasso et al. study find about KPV in colitis models?

Dalmasso et al. (2008, Gastroenterology) reported that KPV is taken up via PepT1 into cultured intestinal epithelial and T-cell lines, reduced NF-kB and MAP-kinase activation and IL-8 secretion, and reduced inflammatory endpoints after oral KPV in mouse DSS- and TNBS-induced colitis models. Importantly, the authors reported the effect was not melanocortin-receptor-mediated. These are cell and mouse findings, not human effects.

KPV is one of the smallest bioactive peptides currently being studied - just three amino acids long. Yet despite its minimal size, this tripeptide has built up a remarkable research history, particularly in the areas of intestinal inflammation, skin biology, and immunomodulation. What makes KPV especially interesting for researchers is that it combines anti-inflammatory potency with a comparatively simple molecular profile.

KPVregeneration

Anti-inflammatory tripeptide derived from alpha-MSH (positions 11-13). Inhibits NF-kB signaling, supports gut barrier integrity, and shows antimicrobial activity. A targeted approach to inflammation research without broad immunosuppression.

What Is KPV?

KPV consists of three amino acids: Lysine (K) - Proline (P) - Valine (V). It is the C-terminal sequence of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH), a 13-amino acid neuropeptide that plays a central role in the regulation of inflammation, pigmentation, and immune response.

In preclinical models, KPV shows anti-inflammatory effects similar in kind to those of alpha-MSH, but published comparisons describe native KPV as less potent on a molar basis; higher potency has been reported for derivatives such as (CKPV)2 rather than for KPV itself. These are preclinical findings; a clinical effect in humans has not been established.

The molecular mass is only approximately 342 Da, making KPV one of the smallest biologically active peptides. In cell studies KPV is taken up via the intestinal peptide transporter PepT1; that is cellular uptake, not the same as established systemic oral bioavailability, which has not been demonstrated.

Why Is KPV Being Researched?

Key Studies

Dalmasso et al. (2008, Gastroenterology): This study reported PepT1-mediated uptake of KPV into cultured intestinal epithelial and T-cell lines, where it reduced NF-κB and MAP-kinase activation, and reduced inflammatory endpoints after oral KPV in mouse DSS- and TNBS-induced colitis models. Notably, the authors reported that the anti-inflammatory effect was not melanocortin-receptor-mediated. These are cell and mouse findings, not human effects.

Xiao et al. (2017, Molecular Therapy): This work developed hyaluronic-acid-functionalized nanoparticles as an oral delivery system for KPV in a mouse ulcerative-colitis model, reporting that targeted delivery improved the anti-inflammatory readout. The very large potency advantage sometimes quoted for a nanoparticle formulation over free KPV comes from an earlier study (Laroui et al., 2010, PMID 19909746), which used non-functionalized KPV nanoparticles in an alginate-chitosan hydrogel, not this hyaluronic-acid system.

Brzoska et al. (2008, Endocrine Reviews): This review summarized preclinical anti-inflammatory and protective findings for alpha-MSH-related tripeptides, including KPV. Separate in vitro experiments by Cutuli et al. (2000, PMID 10670585) reported antimicrobial activity of alpha-MSH and KPV against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans.

Getting et al. (2003, PMID 12750433): This mouse peritonitis study compared KPV with alpha-MSH peptides and receptor-selective melanocortin ligands. It reported anti-inflammatory activity for KPV but did not establish MC2R, MC3R or MC4R involvement.

Mechanisms of Action

Preclinical studies associate KPV with several signalling effects, but its molecular targets remain unknown:

NF-κB and MAPK signalling (preclinical): In cited cell models, KPV reduced stimulus-induced IκBα phosphorylation or degradation, NF-κB signalling, MAPK phosphorylation, and expression or secretion of several pro-inflammatory cytokines. These observed effects do not establish a single molecular target.
PepT1-Mediated Uptake: KPV is actively taken up into intestinal epithelial cells via the peptide transporter PepT1. This transporter is expressed on the apical membrane of enterocytes and enables direct intracellular action.
Melanocortin Receptor Involvement (uncertain): PepT1-mediated uptake and intracellular signalling are supported by the cited studies, but melanocortin-receptor involvement is uncertain: Dalmasso reported the anti-inflammatory effect was not melanocortin-receptor-mediated, later work described the major effect as receptor-independent, and regulators currently describe KPV's molecular targets as not fully established.
Antimicrobial Activity (preclinical): Cutuli et al. (2000, PMID 10670585) reported in vitro activity of alpha-MSH and KPV against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. This is a preclinical observation, not an established clinical effect.
Cytokine findings (preclinical): In Dalmasso's mouse colitis models, KPV reduced expression of several pro-inflammatory cytokines. It did not change colonic IL-10 mRNA, so this study supports reduced pro-inflammatory signalling, not a demonstrated increase in anti-inflammatory mediators.

Quality Criteria When Purchasing

KPV is a tripeptide with low molecular mass - synthesis is comparatively straightforward, but purity must be right:

Reported HPLC purity on the batch CoA: Check the reported HPLC purity on the current batch certificate and set an acceptance threshold appropriate to your experiment rather than relying on a single fixed number.
Mass Spectrometry: An intact-mass result consistent with the expected mass supports identity but does not by itself prove exact sequence or purity; read it with the HPLC result.
Which lab, and what was tested: The current published KPV records are a manufacturer-supplied Janoshik report for the Purple batch and a community-submitted Kovera Labs report for the Black cap batch. PeptidesDirect commissioned neither. Check which laboratory issued a given report and match its lot number to the vial; current batch-specific records are listed at /coa.
Endotoxin: For inflammation research, endotoxin contamination can distort results, so check whether an endotoxin result is reported.

Dose Figures in the Research Literature

No controlled human dosing protocol has been published for KPV. The figures below are references from the preclinical literature or from self-reported community practice, not a dosage recommendation:

Colitis models (oral, mice): Dalmasso et al. used oral administration in DSS- and TNBS-induced mouse colitis models.
In vitro: cell-culture experiments commonly use concentrations in the roughly 10⁻⁸ to 10⁻⁶ M range.
Community subcutaneous figures: low-hundreds-of-micrograms subcutaneous ranges (often cited around 100 to 500 µg) circulate in community research protocols; these are self-reported and unvalidated, not from controlled human trials.

These are preclinical or community figures. No controlled human dosing protocol exists for KPV, and they do not convert into one.

Storage and Handling

KPV is supplied as lyophilized powder:

Before reconstitution: Follow the supplier's documented storage for the unopened lyophilized material, kept cold and protected from light and moisture.
After reconstitution: There is no single validated post-reconstitution shelf life for KPV; treat a reconstituted vial as a short-lived working solution, keep it cold, and rely on the specific product's stability data and your own contamination controls rather than a fixed number of weeks.
Reconstitution: Add a validated solvent slowly down the vial wall and mix by gentle swirling rather than vigorous shaking.
Freeze-thaw: Repeated freezing and thawing can degrade many peptides; where frozen storage is used, single-use aliquots are preferable to refreezing a whole vial.

Why Buy KPV from PeptidesDirect?

Documented certificates: A manufacturer-supplied Janoshik report (Purple batch) and a community-submitted Kovera Labs report (Black cap batch), listed on our lab-reports page at /coa; PeptidesDirect commissioned neither.
EU shipping: Shipped from within the EU customs territory with tracked delivery; see the shipping page for current destination-specific estimates.
Sizes and price: Shown on the product page linked below.

Frequently Asked Questions