New — Free Peptide Starter Guide (2026): 13 chapters, 34 cited studies

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KPV

Also known as: Lys-Pro-Val, Tripeptide KPV, α-MSH C-terminal fragment

KPV is a naturally occurring anti-inflammatory tripeptide derived from the C-terminal of alpha-MSH. It powerfully suppresses intestinal and systemic inflammation via melanocortin receptors, making it valuable for IBD, gut healing, and wound repair.

Half-Life

Short half-life (~15–30 minutes), but effects persist longer due to receptor-level anti-inflammatory cascades

Route

Oral, SubQ, Topical

Category

Immune Support, Recovery & Repair

Studies

50 references

Key Benefits

  • Reduces intestinal inflammation (IBD, Crohn's, colitis)
  • Promotes gut mucosal healing and barrier integrity
  • Accelerates wound healing topically
  • Suppresses systemic inflammatory cytokines
  • Antimicrobial properties against pathogens
  • Reduces neuroinflammation when administered systemically
  • May improve symptoms of inflammatory skin conditions

Mechanism of Action

KPV is the C-terminal tripeptide of α-MSH (alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone). It acts as a melanocortin receptor agonist, primarily MC1R and MC3R, to inhibit NF-κB signaling and downregulate pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α). Unlike full-length α-MSH, KPV is small enough to enter cells directly and penetrate the gut epithelium, allowing local and systemic anti-inflammatory effects without systemic side effects.

Dosing Protocols

IBD / Gut Inflammation

Dose
500 mcg – 1 mg
Frequency
Once to twice daily
Timing
On empty stomach (oral) or subcutaneous
Cycle
4–12 weeks

Oral route targets gut directly; SC for systemic inflammation

Wound Healing (Topical)

Dose
Applied to affected area
Frequency
1–2x daily
Timing
Clean area before application
Cycle
Until healed

Use 0.1–0.5% solution in a carrier cream

Calculate your draw volume

Enter your vial size and BAC water to get exact injection volumes

Calculate dose →

Side Effects

  • Generally very well tolerated
  • Mild injection site reactions (SC)
  • Rare: transient flushing

Contraindications

No major contraindications identified. Caution in autoimmune conditions where inflammation suppression may be undesirable.

Storage

Store lyophilized powder at -20°C, reconstituted peptide at 4°C. Use within 30 days of reconstitution. Protect from light.

  1. 1.
    Inflammation-triggered self-immolative conjugates enable oral peptide delivery by overcoming gastrointestinal barriers

    Cheng J, Wu P, Li C, Han Y, Sun M, Dou Y et al. · Science advances · 2026PubMed Verified

  2. 2.
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    Host defense peptides as a new drug lead to a strategy for inflammatory bowel disease

    Rodrigues JM, Ferreira Leal AP, Buccini DF, Franco OL · Drug discovery today · 2025ReviewPubMed Verified

  4. 4.
    Exploring the Role of Tripeptides in Wound Healing and Skin Regeneration: A Comprehensive Review

    Adnan SB, Maarof M, Fauzi MB, Fadilah NIM · International journal of medical sciences · 2025ReviewPubMed Verified

  5. 5.
    Challenges in clinical nutrition research in Latin America: A narrative review

    Correia MITD, Papapietro K, Fuchs-Tarlovsky V · Clinical nutrition ESPEN · 2025ReviewPubMed Verified

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    Digital neonatal neurocritical care in Brazil: a retrospective multicentre cohort study of over 11,000 remotely monitored infants

    Variane GFT, Leandro DMK, Azevedo SS, Rodrigues RF, Sampaio LB, Girotto PN et al. · Lancet regional health. Americas · 2025PubMed Verified

  7. 7.
    NLRP3 autophagic degradation disruption in melanocytes contributes to vitiligo development

    Zeng K, Zhu Y, Han Z, Xiong S, Zhao Y, Xiao Z et al. · Cell death and differentiation · 2026PubMed Verified

  8. 8.
    Enhanced magnetic properties through tailoring of morphology of electrospun strontium hexaferrite nanofibers

    Vats N, Phadkule SS, Sarma S, Negi DS, Vishal B, Vadera SR et al. · Scientific reports · 2025PubMed Verified

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    Clinical efficacy and safety of two highly purified human menopausal gonadotropins in women undergoing in vitro fertilization

    Rao KA, Khanna G, Bavishi H, Reddy NS, Mangukiya K, Jain R et al. · Reproduction & fertility · 2025RCTPubMed Verified

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    Multicompartmental Hydrogel Microspheres with a Concentric Thin Oil Layer: Protecting and Targeting Therapeutic Agents for Inflammatory Bowel Disease

    Jeong HS, Choi Y, Kim DW, Je JY, Lee SJ, Choi CH · ACS applied bio materials · 2025PubMed Verified

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    Accurate Intramyocardial Hemorrhage Assessment with Fast, Free-running, Cardiac Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping

    Huang Y, Guan X, Zhang X, Yoosefian G, Ho H, Huang LT et al. · Radiology. Cardiothoracic imaging · 2024PubMed Verified

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    KPV and RAPA Self-Assembled into Carrier-Free Nanodrugs for Vascular Calcification Therapy

    Zhang L, Li D, Aierken Y, Zhang J, Liu Z, Lin Z et al. · Advanced healthcare materials · 2024PubMed Verified

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    Amivantamab efficacy in wild-type EGFR NSCLC tumors correlates with levels of ligand expression

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    Learnings from the first AI-enabled skin cancer device for primary care authorized by FDA

    Venkatesh KP, Kadakia KT, Gilbert S · NPJ digital medicine · 2024PubMed Verified

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    Internet Gaming Disorder and the Incidence of Suicide-related Ideation and Behaviors in College Students

    Orozco R, Borges G, Caldas-de-Almeida JM, Gutiérrez-García RA, Albor Y, Jiménez Pérez AL et al. · Journal of addiction medicine · 2024PubMed Verified

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    Growth Factors-Loaded Temperature-Sensitive Hydrogel as Biomimetic Mucus Attenuated Murine Ulcerative Colitis via Repairing the Mucosal Barriers

    Li D, Shangguan J, Yu F, Lin G, Pan H, Zhang M et al. · ACS applied materials & interfaces · 2024PubMed Verified

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    Non-contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance urography for measuring split kidney function in pediatric patients with hydronephrosis: comparison with renal scintigraphy

    He K, Wan D, Li S, Yuan G, Gao M, Han Y et al. · Pediatric nephrology (Berlin, Germany) · 2024PubMed Verified

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    A nanoparticle platform for combined mucosal healing and immunomodulation in inflammatory bowel disease treatment

    Marotti V, Xu Y, Bohns Michalowski C, Zhang W, Domingues I, Ameraoui H et al. · Bioactive materials · 2024PubMed Verified

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    Association of EEG Background and Neurodevelopmental Outcome in Neonates With Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy Receiving Hypothermia

    Glass HC, Numis AL, Comstock BA, Gonzalez FF, Mietzsch U, Bonifacio SL et al. · Neurology · 2023PubMed Verified

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    Prognostic role of renal replacement therapy among hospitalized patients with heart failure in the Brazilian national public health system

    Coy-Canguçu A, Antunes-Correa LM, Mazzali M, Abrão P, Ronco F, Teixeira CM et al. · Frontiers in cardiovascular medicine · 2023PubMed Verified

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    The Melanocortin System in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Insights into Its Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potentials

    Gravina AG, Pellegrino R, Durante T, Palladino G, Imperio G, D'Amico G et al. · Cells · 2023ReviewPubMed Verified

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    Digital health technology in clinical trials

    Mittermaier M, Venkatesh KP, Kvedar JC · NPJ digital medicine · 2023PubMed Verified

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    Vimentin is required for tumor progression and metastasis in a mouse model of non-small cell lung cancer

    Berr AL, Wiese K, Dos Santos G, Koch CM, Anekalla KR, Kidd M et al. · Oncogene · 2023PubMed Verified

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    A Phase 1 Study of Oral Vitamin D(3) in Boys and Young Men With X-Linked Adrenoleukodystrophy

    Van Haren KP, Cunanan K, Awani A, Gu M, Peña D, Chromik LC et al. · Neurology. Genetics · 2023PubMed Verified

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    Skin-adaptive film dressing with smart-release of growth factors accelerated diabetic wound healing

    Zhao Y, Huang L, Lin G, Tong M, Xie Y, Pan H et al. · International journal of biological macromolecules · 2022PubMed Verified

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    International Recommendations for the Diagnosis and Management of Patients With Adrenoleukodystrophy: A Consensus-Based Approach

    Engelen M, van Ballegoij WJC, Mallack EJ, Van Haren KP, Köhler W, Salsano E et al. · Neurology · 2022PubMed Verified

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    Trial of Erythropoietin for Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy in Newborns

    Wu YW, Comstock BA, Gonzalez FF, Mayock DE, Goodman AM, Maitre NL et al. · The New England journal of medicine · 2022RCTPubMed Verified

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    Presymptomatic Lesion in Childhood Cerebral Adrenoleukodystrophy: Timing and Treatment

    Mallack EJ, Van Haren KP, Torrey A, van de Stadt S, Engelen M, Raymond GV et al. · Neurology · 2022PubMed Verified

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    Nocturnal Hypoventilation as a Respiratory Complication of Acute Flaccid Myelitis

    Aziz-Bose R, Bhargava S, Buu M, Bove R, van Haren K · The Journal of pediatrics · 2022Case ReportPubMed Verified

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    Interobserver Variability in CT-based Morphologic Tumor Response Assessment of Colorectal Liver Metastases

    Wesdorp NJ, Kemna R, Bolhuis K, van Waesberghe JHTM, Nota IMGC, Struik F et al. · Radiology. Imaging cancer · 2022RCTPubMed Verified

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    Why monitor the neonatal brain-that is the important question

    Vanhatalo S, Stevenson NJ, Pressler RM, Abend NS, Auvin S, Brigo F et al. · Pediatric research · 2023PubMed Verified

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    Hydrocortisone to Improve Survival without Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

    Watterberg KL, Walsh MC, Li L, Chawla S, D'Angio CT, Goldberg RN et al. · The New England journal of medicine · 2022RCTPubMed Verified

  37. 37.
    A KPV-binding double-network hydrogel restores gut mucosal barrier in an inflamed colon

    Zhao Y, Xue P, Lin G, Tong M, Yang J, Zhang Y et al. · Acta biomaterialia · 2022PubMed Verified

  38. 38.
    Macular Hemorrhage Due to Age-Related Macular Degeneration or Retinal Arterial Macroaneurysm: Predictive Factors of Surgical Outcome

    Pierre M, Mainguy A, Chatziralli I, Pakzad-Vaezi K, Ruiz-Medrano J, Bodaghi B et al. · Journal of clinical medicine · 2021PubMed Verified

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    Self-Cross-Linked Hydrogel of Cysteamine-Grafted γ-Polyglutamic Acid Stabilized Tripeptide KPV for Alleviating TNBS-Induced Ulcerative Colitis in Rats

    Sun J, Xue P, Liu J, Huang L, Lin G, Ran K et al. · ACS biomaterials science & engineering · 2021PubMed Verified

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    Metformin Prevents Hyperglycemia-Associated, Oxidative Stress-Induced Vascular Endothelial Dysfunction: Essential Role for the Orphan Nuclear Receptor Human Nuclear Receptor 4A1 (Nur77)

    Venu VKP, Saifeddine M, Mihara K, Faiza M, Gorobets E, Flewelling AJ et al. · Molecular pharmacology · 2021PubMed Verified

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    Irreversible Electroporation to Treat Unresectable Colorectal Liver Metastases (COLDFIRE-2): A Phase II, Two-Center, Single-Arm Clinical Trial

    Meijerink MR, Ruarus AH, Vroomen LGPH, Puijk RS, Geboers B, Nieuwenhuizen S et al. · Radiology · 2021Clinical TrialPubMed Verified

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    Persistent Troponin Elevation in Left-Dominant Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy

    Verma KP, Roberts T, Parsons S, Winship IM, Prior D, La Gerche A et al. · Circulation. Genomic and precision medicine · 2020Case ReportPubMed Verified

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    Five men with arresting and relapsing cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy

    Carlson AM, Huffnagel IC, Verrips A, van der Knaap MS, Engelen M, Van Haren K · Journal of neurology · 2021PubMed Verified

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    Electrocardiogram Standards for Children and Young Adults Using Z-Scores

    Bratincsák A, Kimata C, Limm-Chan BN, Vincent KP, Williams MR, Perry JC · Circulation. Arrhythmia and electrophysiology · 2020PubMed Verified

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    Cardiomyocyte Expression of ZO-1 Is Essential for Normal Atrioventricular Conduction but Does Not Alter Ventricular Function

    Zhang J, Vincent KP, Peter AK, Klos M, Cheng H, Huang SM et al. · Circulation research · 2020PubMed Verified

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    Subacute Neuropsychiatric Syndrome in Girls With SHANK3 Mutations Responds to Immunomodulation

    Bey AL, Gorman MP, Gallentine W, Kohlenberg TM, Frankovich J, Jiang YH et al. · Pediatrics · 2020Case ReportPubMed Verified

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    Percutaneous Irreversible Electroporation in Locally Advanced and Recurrent Pancreatic Cancer (PANFIRE-2): A Multicenter, Prospective, Single-Arm, Phase II Study

    Ruarus AH, Vroomen LGPH, Geboers B, van Veldhuisen E, Puijk RS, Nieuwenhuizen S et al. · Radiology · 2020Clinical TrialPubMed Verified

Medical disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Many compounds listed are research chemicals not approved for human use. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any protocol.

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