KPV

KPV is the tripeptide lysine-proline-valine, the last three amino acids of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH). Research interest comes from the observation, reviewed by Brzoska and colleagues in Endocrine Reviews (2008), that this C-terminal fragment retains the anti-inflammatory activity of alpha-MSH in experimental models without its effect on pigmentation.

Most of the published work concerns intestinal inflammation. Dalmasso and colleagues (Gastroenterology 2008) reported that KPV enters intestinal epithelial cells and T cells through the PepT1 transporter, reduced inflammatory signaling and cytokine release in those cell lines, and reduced inflammation in two chemically induced mouse colitis models. Kannengiesser and colleagues (Inflammatory Bowel Diseases 2008) reported reduced inflammation in mouse colitis models, including in mice without a functional MC1R receptor.

Later work in mice focused on delivery, including colon-targeted nanoparticles (Gastroenterology 2010; Molecular Therapy 2017), and on a model of colitis-associated cancer in which the reported effect depended on PepT1 (Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology 2016). No randomized human trial of KPV has been published. Merit Sciences supplies KPV as a component of the KLOW blend, for laboratory research use only.

KPV is reported to act inside cells after uptake through PepT1, the intestinal di- and tripeptide transporter, where it reduced NF-kappaB and MAP kinase activation and inflammatory cytokine secretion in intestinal epithelial and T cell lines (Dalmasso, Gastroenterology 2008). Mouse colitis data suggest the effect is at least partly independent of the melanocortin 1 receptor (Kannengiesser, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases 2008), which distinguishes it from the parent hormone.

• Intestinal epithelial inflammation models
• PepT1 transporter biology
• Melanocortin-derived peptide pharmacology
• Colon-targeted nanoparticle delivery research
• Mouse colitis models

• KLOW (BPC-157, GHK-Cu, TB-500, KPV) 80 mgCurrent certificate: July 2026 batch, 99.79% purity

Research review on The Assay, Merit’s editorial publication: KPV: What the Research Shows on the Anti-Inflammatory Tripeptide

KPV ships as a sealed, lyophilized (freeze-dried) powder. Store sealed, light-protected, and follow your institution’s handling procedures for research materials.

Regulatory status checked October 22, 2026 against: FDA advisory committee meeting, committee vote report (Healio), FDA Category 2 list.

1. PepT1-mediated tripeptide KPV uptake reduces intestinal inflammation. Dalmasso G, Charrier-Hisamuddin L, Nguyen HT, Yan Y, Sitaraman S, Merlin D. Gastroenterology, 2008 · PMID 18061177
2. Melanocortin-derived tripeptide KPV has anti-inflammatory potential in murine models of inflammatory bowel disease. Kannengiesser K, Maaser C, Heidemann J, Luegering A, Ross M, Brzoska T, et al.. Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, 2008 · PMID 18092346
3. Alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone and related tripeptides: biochemistry, antiinflammatory and protective effects in vitro and in vivo, and future perspectives for the treatment of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. Brzoska T, Luger TA, Maaser C, Abels C, Bohm M. Endocrine Reviews, 2008 · PMID 18612139
4. Drug-loaded nanoparticles targeted to the colon with polysaccharide hydrogel reduce colitis in a mouse model. Laroui H, Dalmasso G, Nguyen HT, Yan Y, Sitaraman SV, Merlin D. Gastroenterology, 2010 · PMID 19909746
5. Critical role of PepT1 in promoting colitis-associated cancer and therapeutic benefits of the anti-inflammatory PepT1-mediated tripeptide KPV in a murine model. Viennois E, Ingersoll SA, Ayyadurai S, Zhao Y, Wang L, Zhang M, et al.. Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 2016 · PMID 27458604
6. Orally Targeted Delivery of Tripeptide KPV via Hyaluronic Acid-Functionalized Nanoparticles Efficiently Alleviates Ulcerative Colitis. Xiao B, Xu Z, Viennois E, Zhang Y, Zhang Z, Zhang M, et al.. Molecular Therapy, 2017 · PMID 28143741