What it is
KPV is a tripeptide of lysine, proline, and valine, corresponding to the C-terminal fragment 11-13 of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. It appears in preclinical research on intestinal inflammation and epithelial barrier biology. It is not an approved medicine.
How it works
KPV is taken up by the di- and tripeptide transporter PepT1 expressed in intestinal epithelial and immune cells, where nanomolar concentrations inhibit NF-kappaB and MAP kinase signalling and lower pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion. The anti-inflammatory effect appears at least partly independent of melanocortin-1 receptor signalling.
Regulatory status
- Cosmetic ingredient
- Research compound
- In clinical trials
- Approved medicine
Not approved as a medicine by the FDA or the EMA. Some are registered in individual countries. Supplied for laboratory research only.
What published research is studying
- Intestinal inflammation in DSS and TNBS mouse colitis models
- PepT1-mediated transport of the peptide into epithelial and immune cells
- Mucosal healing and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in ulcerative colitis models
- Colon-targeted oral and nanoparticle delivery routes
Key findings
In human intestinal epithelial and T cell lines, nanomolar KPV inhibited NF-kappaB and MAP kinase activation, and oral KPV reduced the incidence of DSS- and TNBS-induced colitis in mice alongside lower pro-inflammatory cytokine expression.
Dalmasso G et al., Gastroenterology 2008In DSS colitis and CD45RB-high transfer colitis in mice, KPV produced earlier recovery, significantly stronger regain of body weight, and significantly reduced inflammatory infiltrate and colonic myeloperoxidase activity.
Kannengiesser K et al., Inflamm Bowel Dis 2008KPV loaded into hyaluronic-acid-functionalised nanoparticles and delivered orally in a hydrogel reduced mucosal damage and downregulated TNF-alpha in a mouse ulcerative colitis model, more so than non-targeted nanoparticles.
Xiao B et al., Mol Ther 2017
What the studies measured
Study durations
- Murine DSS colitis model: colonic inflammation assessed 8 days after DSS treatment (Dalmasso et al., Gastroenterology 2008).
- Murine TNBS colitis model: colonic inflammation assessed 48 hours after induction (Dalmasso et al., Gastroenterology 2008).
Endpoints
- Myeloperoxidase activity in colonic tissue
- Histological inflammatory cell infiltrate
- Body-weight change during colitis
- Pro-inflammatory cytokine mRNA expression
- NF-kappaB and MAP kinase activation in vitro
How strong is the evidence?
All published findings come from cell-culture work and mouse colitis models, and a search of ClinicalTrials.gov returns no registered human trials of KPV.
Common questions
Is KPV an approved medicine?
Research compound. Not approved as a medicine by the FDA or the EMA. Some are registered in individual countries. Supplied for laboratory research only.
How much human research is there on KPV?
All published findings come from cell-culture work and mouse colitis models, and a search of ClinicalTrials.gov returns no registered human trials of KPV.
Does UU supply KPV?
Yes, as premium-grade research material for laboratory use. Every batch is tested by an independent lab and the certificate of analysis is published.