KPV

KPV

Immune HealingAnti-Aging Preclinical (animal)

KPV is a naturally occurring tripeptide derived from alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH). In cell-culture studies and mouse colitis models it has shown anti-inflammatory activity relevant to intestinal inflammation.

Regulatory status (as of Sept 2026)

Not FDA-approved. Removed from 503A Category 2 on April 15, 2026. PCAC recommended for the 503A Bulks List (advisory); awaiting FDA rulemaking; not lawfully compoundable under 503A as of Sept 17, 2026. PCAC vote: 8–6–1 (yes–no–abstain), July 23, 2026.

See the FDA peptide regulatory tracker · Read our July 27, 2026 dispatch on the FDA PCAC peptide vote
Educational summary. Every effect described below is drawn from the cited published research and describes what was observed in research subjects — not a promise of results, a dose recommendation, or an endorsement for human use. Many peptides are not FDA-approved. Consult a licensed healthcare provider before making any health decision. Full disclaimer.

5 studies referenced · Last reviewed Oct 1, 2026 · Reviewed by The Peptide Dispatch Editorial Team · How we research & label content

TL;DR — KPV at a Glance

KPV is a compound studied only in animals and lab experiments so far. KPV is a naturally occurring tripeptide derived from alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH).

Half-lifeNot established in published research
How it's given in studiesSubcutaneous injection, Oral, Topical
Research stagePreclinical (animal)
Dosing
Published research: No published human dosing
detailsNanomolar concentrations in human intestinal epithelial and T-cell culture; KPV added to drinking water (oral) in DSS- and TNBS-induced colitis in mice; KPV-loaded hyaluronic-acid nanoparticles delivered orally in a mouse ulcerative colitis model.
Community-reportedCommunity-reported: 200–500 mcg, subcutaneous injection, Oral, Topical

Published-research dosing is what was given in the cited studies (species and units as reported). Community-reported dosing is what users describe, not from clinical studies. Neither is a recommendation. Not medical advice.

Where each point comes from: Clinicalhuman trials and FDA labels   Lab / animalrodent, cell and ex vivo studies   Community-reporteduser experience and commonly used protocols, not from clinical studies

How It Works

In plain terms: It is a tiny peptide that calmed inflammation signals in lab cells and in mice with gut inflammation. Proposed mechanism, from human cell cultures and mouse colitis models (Dalmasso 2008): KPV is taken up into intestinal epithelial and immune cells by the PepT1 transporter and, at nanomolar concentrations, inhibited NF-κB and MAP-kinase inflammatory signalling and reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion. As a fragment of α-MSH, it is described as retaining anti-inflammatory activity without melanocortin-mediated pigmentation effects.

Effects Reported in Research

How to read this: Each item below is an effect observed in research subjects in the cited studies — think of Dexter, our stand-in research subject. These are findings from the literature, not results you should expect, and not medical advice.

  • Lab / animalIn cultured human intestinal epithelial and T cells, KPV inhibited NF-κB and MAP-kinase signalling at nanomolar concentrations
  • Lab / animalOral KPV reduced the incidence and severity of chemically induced colitis in mice

What Users Report (Community, Not Clinical)

Commonly reported protocol

Community-reportedIn user communities, KPV is typically run at 200–500 mcg (subcutaneous injection, oral, topical). This is not a recommendation.

What users report

  • Community-reportedAntimicrobial properties
  • Community-reportedSkin condition improvement (psoriasis, eczema)
  • Community-reportedWound healing acceleration
  • Community-reportedImmune system modulation

Side effects users report

  • Community-reportedMild injection site reactions (rare)
  • Community-reportedPotential mild GI discomfort with oral use

Side effects reported in studies are listed separately below.

Community reports are anecdotal, vary widely in product quality and purity, and are not medical advice. Talk to a licensed provider.

Side Effects and Safety Notes

  • No human safety data have been published; safety information comes from mouse colitis models and cell culture
  • Lab / animalNanoparticle-formulated KPV appeared non-toxic to intestinal cells in the published mouse work
  • Long-term effects of an immunomodulating alpha-MSH fragment in humans are uncharacterized

What is KPV?

KPV is a C-terminal tripeptide fragment (amino acids 11-13) of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH), consisting of the amino acids lysine-proline-valine. Despite its small size, KPV retains the full anti-inflammatory activity of the parent hormone while lacking its pigmentation effects. In cultured human intestinal epithelial and T cells, KPV inhibited NF-κB and MAP-kinase signalling at nanomolar concentrations. KPV works primarily by entering cells and inhibiting the NF-κB signaling cascade, which is a master regulator of inflammation. In mice, oral KPV reduced the incidence and severity of chemically induced (DSS and TNBS) colitis; the published evidence found is limited to cell culture and mouse models. The peptide's small size, stability, and multiple routes of administration (injectable, oral, and topical) make it a versatile research compound.

Structure (Amino-Acid Sequence)

Lys-Pro-Val (3 amino acids)

Molecular Weight: 342.4 Da

Molecular Formula: C16H30N4O4

Structure Details: Linear tripeptide consisting of lysine, proline, and valine. C-terminal fragment (residues 11-13) of α-MSH. The compact structure contributes to stability and cellular penetration.

What the Studies Found

  1. Anti-inflammatory: In cultured human intestinal epithelial and T cells, KPV inhibited NF-κB and MAP-kinase signalling at nanomolar concentrations (Dalmasso et al., Gastroenterology, 2008)
  2. IBD Research: Oral KPV reduced the incidence and severity of DSS- and TNBS-induced colitis in mice (Dalmasso et al., Gastroenterology, 2008)
  3. Nanoparticle Delivery: In a mouse ulcerative colitis model, orally delivered hyaluronic acid-functionalised KPV nanoparticles targeted to inflamed intestinal tissue alleviated colitis (Xiao et al., Molecular Therapy, 2017)

References

  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.
    Study type: Human cell culture (Caco2-BBE, HT29-Cl.19A, Jurkat) plus DSS- and TNBS-induced colitis in mice, oral administration.
    DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2007.10.026 · PubMed
  2. 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 : the journal of the American Society of Gene Therapy. 2017. PMID: 28143741.
    Study type: Mouse ulcerative colitis model with nanoparticle/hydrogel oral delivery.
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2016.11.020 · PubMed

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How KPV Compares

PeptideHalf-LifeRouteResearch Status
KPVNo published PK data foundSubcutaneous injection, Oral, TopicalPreclinical (animal)
LL-37UnknownSubcutaneous injectionPhase 2
ThymalinNo published PK data foundIntramuscular injectionApproved outside US
Thymopoietin II Fragment (TP-1)UnknownSubcutaneous injectionPreclinical (animal)
Thymosin Alpha-1No published human PK data found; ~3 h for native Tα1 in rats (Shen 2019). Literature describes a 'short plasma half-life' requiring twice-weekly s.c. dosing.Subcutaneous injectionApproved outside US

Values reflect figures reported in published research. Compare any peptides side-by-side →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is KPV?
KPV is a naturally occurring tripeptide derived from alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH). In cell-culture studies and mouse colitis models it has shown anti-inflammatory activity relevant to intestinal inflammation.
How does KPV work?
In plain terms: It is a tiny peptide that calmed inflammation signals in lab cells and in mice with gut inflammation. Proposed mechanism, from human cell cultures and mouse colitis models (Dalmasso 2008): KPV is taken up into intestinal epithelial and immune cells by the PepT1 transporter and, at nanomolar concentrations, inhibited NF-κB and MAP-kinase inflammatory signalling and reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion. As a fragment of α-MSH, it is described as retaining anti-inflammatory activity without melanocortin-mediated pigmentation effects.
What is the research status of KPV?
KPV is at the following stage in the published literature: Preclinical (animal). All information is for research and educational purposes only.
What is the half-life of KPV?
Reported half-life: No published PK data found.
How is KPV administered in research?
Reported administration route in the literature: Subcutaneous injection, Oral, Topical. This is not a recommendation for human use.

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Category

This peptide belongs to the Immune category. View All Immune Peptides

Related Categories

Healing, Anti-Aging

Related Peptides

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Sources & Methodology

Dosing, half-life figures, and mechanism descriptions on this page are compiled from peer-reviewed published research, with the species and study type stated where reported. Figures labeled “Dosing used in published research” describe what was given in those studies and do not constitute dosing recommendations for any human use. Each cited paper is listed with DOI and PubMed links in the References section above. Found an error? Contact us.

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