What is KPV?
KPV is the C-terminal tripeptide (Lys-Pro-Val) of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH). Studied in murine and cell-culture models of inflammatory bowel disease and colitis with PepT1-mediated intestinal-epithelial uptake and anti-inflammatory transcriptional responses as the dominant mechanistic findings.
What the research literature says
KPV is the synthetic tripeptide Lysine-Proline-Valine, corresponding to the C-terminal three amino acids of α-MSH — the 13-amino-acid melanocortin-1-receptor ligand. The published research literature centres on the tripeptide’s activity in gastrointestinal-inflammation models, where it is selectively taken up by intestinal epithelial cells via the proton-coupled peptide transporter PepT1 and exerts anti-inflammatory effects on the surrounding tissue.
The PepT1-mediated-uptake framework was established by Dalmasso and colleagues (PMID 18061177), with parallel publication from the Kannengiesser group documenting anti-inflammatory potential in murine inflammatory bowel disease models (PMID 18092346). The Viennois work documented critical PepT1 involvement in colitis-associated cancer with anti-inflammatory benefits of KPV in a murine model (PMID 27458604). The Xiao work examined orally-targeted delivery via hyaluronic acid-functionalised nanoparticles in ulcerative colitis models (PMID 28143741).
Mechanistically, the anti-inflammatory activity is distinct from the parent α-MSH compound’s broader melanocortin-receptor pharmacology. KPV acts without engaging the melanocortin-1 receptor; the published mechanism centres on downstream NF-κB-pathway modulation in intestinal epithelial cells following PepT1-mediated uptake.
Why this matters in research context
KPV is the most narrowly-targeted research compound in the catalog by mechanism — the PepT1-uptake-and-NF-κB-modulation pathway is operative primarily in intestinal-epithelial contexts. Researchers using KPV outside the GI-inflammation framework should expect different (and less characterised) pharmacology. The four-compound KLOW Blend pairs KPV with the broader tissue-repair compounds for combined-mechanism research workflows.
Related compounds
- KPV 10mg — the compound covered by this answer
- KLOW Blend — four-compound formulation including KPV
Related research questions
References
- Dalmasso G et al. PepT1-mediated tripeptide KPV uptake reduces intestinal inflammation. Gastroenterology 2008;134(1):166-178. [PMID 18061177]
- Kannengiesser K et al. Melanocortin-derived tripeptide KPV has anti-inflammatory potential in murine models of inflammatory bowel disease. Inflamm Bowel Dis 2008;14(3):324-331. [PMID 18092346]
- Viennois E et al. Critical role of PepT1 in promoting colitis-associated cancer and therapeutic benefits of the anti-inflammatory PepT1-mediated tripeptide KPV in a murine model. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2016;2(3):340-357. [PMID 27458604]
- Xiao B et al. Orally Targeted Delivery of Tripeptide KPV via Hyaluronic Acid-Functionalized Nanoparticles Efficiently Alleviates Ulcerative Colitis. Mol Ther 2017;25(7):1628-1640. [PMID 28143741]
Research-questions pages describe research-context use of peptide-research terminology. They do not constitute medical, veterinary, or clinical advice. KPV is sold strictly as a research-grade reagent for laboratory and bench research applications.