KPV – 10mg

Researchers who buy KPV research peptide are typically studying its behavior as a tripeptide corresponding to the C-terminal three residues (Lys-Pro-Val) of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH). Unlike full-length α-MSH, KPV is studied in the published literature for a receptor-independent anti-inflammatory mechanism, distinct from melanocortin-receptor signaling. The summary below reflects the published preclinical literature and is provided strictly for research and educational reference — it does not describe an intended effect of this product in humans or animals.

In this reference:

• What Is KPV?
• Proposed Mechanism of Action
• Chemical Identity
• Purity, Storage & Quality
• Research Applications
• What the Human Evidence Shows
• Compared to Related Research Compounds
• Frequently Asked Questions

What Is KPV?

KPV is a synthetic tripeptide (lysine-proline-valine) corresponding to the C-terminal fragment of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH), a naturally occurring hormone best known in the endocrinology literature for its role in melanocortin-receptor signaling. Published research has identified KPV as retaining α-MSH’s anti-inflammatory research signal while lacking meaningful binding affinity for melanocortin receptors at physiologically relevant concentrations, making it a research tool for isolating anti-inflammatory questions from the broader pigmentation and appetite-regulation effects associated with full-length α-MSH and receptor-active fragments.

Because KPV’s proposed anti-inflammatory activity is reported in the literature as receptor-independent, it is studied as a distinct pharmacological entity from other melanocortin-pathway research peptides, rather than as a smaller or weaker version of α-MSH itself.

Proposed Mechanism of Action

Published in vitro research has reported that KPV inhibits nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and MAP-kinase inflammatory signaling pathways at nanomolar concentrations, with a corresponding reduction in pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion in tested cell models. Study authors have proposed this mechanism as receptor-independent — meaning it does not require melanocortin-receptor engagement — distinguishing KPV’s research profile from full-length α-MSH and other melanocortin-receptor-active research peptides.

A key transport mechanism has been characterized in the peer-reviewed literature: KPV is a substrate for the peptide transporter PepT1, expressed on intestinal epithelial and certain immune cells, which was reported to mediate cellular uptake of the tripeptide and was proposed as the basis for its studied activity in intestinal-inflammation models (Dalmasso G, et al., Gastroenterology. 2008 Jan;134(1):166-78; PMID 18061177). That same published study reported that oral KPV administration reduced the incidence and severity of DSS- and TNBS-induced colitis in tested animal models, alongside decreased pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in colonic tissue.

Chemical Identity

Sequence	Lys-Pro-Val (KPV)
Molecular Formula	C16H30N4O4
Molecular Weight	~342.4 g/mol
Sequence Length	3 amino acids (tripeptide)
Appearance	White to off-white lyophilized powder

Purity, Storage & Quality

First Class Science supplies this KPV research peptide vial at research-grade purity, verified by independent third-party HPLC testing and mass spectrometry. A Certificate of Analysis is available for every batch at our Certificate of Analysis page, listing the specific lot’s purity result, molecular-weight confirmation, and test date.

Store the lyophilized (freeze-dried) compound at −20°C for long-term stability. This vial must be reconstituted with bacteriostatic or sterile water before laboratory use; after reconstitution, refrigerate at 2–8°C and use within 4–6 weeks. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles and prolonged exposure to light or room-temperature conditions, both of which are associated with accelerated peptide degradation in handling literature.

Important: This item is manufactured strictly for research purposes. It is not intended for human or veterinary use and is distributed solely for laboratory and scientific investigation.

Preparing Solutions for Laboratory Use

Laboratories reconstituting lyophilized KPV for in vitro or animal-model research typically follow standard peptide-handling practice: the vial is brought to room temperature before opening, and a diluent — commonly reconstitution solution or sterile water for injection (SWFI) — is added slowly down the interior wall of the vial rather than directly onto the lyophilized material, to reduce foaming and mechanical stress on the peptide. The vial is then gently swirled, never shaken, until the powder is fully dissolved.

Stock-solution concentration for a given protocol is calculated by dividing the total peptide mass in the vial by the volume of diluent added, and that calculation should be recorded in the study’s protocol documentation. This page describes general laboratory reconstitution practice for research use and is not a dosing guide for human or animal administration.

Quality Control Methodology

Each production batch of this KPV research peptide undergoes independent third-party testing before release. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) confirms purity by measuring the proportion of the target peptide relative to synthesis by-products or degradation fragments. Mass spectrometry separately confirms molecular identity, verifying that the measured mass of the material matches the expected ~342.4 g/mol molecular weight of KPV. Both results are recorded on the batch’s published Certificate of Analysis, letting researchers independently verify identity and purity rather than relying on manufacturer claims alone.

Who Should Buy KPV Research Peptide

Researchers who buy KPV from First Class Science are typically university and academic laboratories, contract research organizations (CROs), and biotechnology R&D teams running in vitro cytokine-signaling assays or animal-model studies on NF-κB pathway biology and intestinal-inflammation models. First Class Science requires that all research-peptide orders be placed by parties who acknowledge and agree to the research-use-only terms stated on this page prior to purchase.

Research Applications

The published literature on KPV spans a handful of distinct research areas. Each is summarized below strictly as a description of what has been studied in animal or in vitro models — not as a claim about effects for any individual using this product.

NF-κB and Inflammatory Signaling Research

The foundational proposed mechanism for KPV is inhibition of NF-κB and MAP-kinase pro-inflammatory signaling at nanomolar concentrations in tested cell models, independent of melanocortin-receptor engagement. This receptor-independent profile is the primary reason KPV continues to be studied as a distinct research tool from other α-MSH-derived peptides.

Intestinal Inflammation and Colitis Models

The most substantial published research on KPV examined its transport via the PepT1 peptide transporter and its association with reduced incidence and severity of DSS- and TNBS-induced colitis in animal models, alongside reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in colonic tissue (Dalmasso et al., 2008, PMID 18061177). This transport mechanism — via a peptide transporter rather than a classical receptor — is a distinguishing feature of KPV’s proposed research profile relative to receptor-active melanocortin peptides.

Comparative Melanocortin-Fragment Research

Because KPV lacks meaningful melanocortin-receptor binding while retaining anti-inflammatory activity, it is used in comparative structure-activity research alongside receptor-active α-MSH fragments and analogs, helping researchers separate melanocortin-receptor-dependent effects from receptor-independent anti-inflammatory mechanisms in the same experimental system.

What the Human Evidence Shows

Researchers evaluating KPV should know that, unlike some other compounds in this catalog, no controlled human clinical trial of KPV itself has been published in the peer-reviewed literature as of this writing. The published evidence base for KPV consists of in vitro cell-signaling studies and animal-model colitis research, most substantially the Dalmasso et al. 2008 study cited throughout this page.

KPV is not an FDA-approved drug for any indication, has not entered a published human clinical-trial pathway, and is not evaluated by the FDA for safety or efficacy in humans or animals. Researchers should characterize KPV findings accordingly in any grant application or protocol design — as preclinical, animal-model, and in vitro evidence, not as clinical safety or efficacy data. As controlled human research is published, if any, this page will be updated to reflect it.

Compared to Related Research Compounds

KPV is studied within the broader melanocortin-peptide research family and is frequently combined with peptides studied in tissue-repair contexts. First Class Science supplies several related preparations for researchers running comparative or combined studies:

BPC Wolverine + KPV – 10mg/10mg/10mg pairs KPV with BPC-157 and TB-500 (Thymosin Beta-4) for laboratories modeling combined anti-inflammatory and tissue-repair research protocols.

Each related preparation carries its own Certificate of Analysis and is subject to the same research-use-only terms described on this page. Laboratories typically choose the standalone KPV vial when a protocol calls for isolating the NF-κB/receptor-independent anti-inflammatory mechanism specifically.

Common Research Study Designs

Published studies referenced throughout this page typically fall into two designs: in vitro cell-signaling assays measuring NF-κB and MAP-kinase pathway activity and cytokine secretion; and controlled animal-model studies of chemically-induced colitis (DSS and TNBS models) measuring disease incidence, severity, and tissue-level cytokine expression. Understanding which design underlies a given finding is important context for interpreting the strength of any individual claim in the literature.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purity of this KPV research peptide?
Every batch is independently verified via third-party HPLC and mass-spectrometry testing, with a Certificate of Analysis published for each lot.

How should KPV research peptide be stored?
Store the lyophilized powder at −20°C. After reconstitution, refrigerate at 2–8°C and use within 4–6 weeks; avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.

Is KPV approved for human or animal use?
No. KPV is not an FDA-approved drug for any indication and has not entered a published human clinical-trial pathway. It is sold exclusively for in vitro and laboratory research use.

Has KPV been tested in humans?
Not as of this writing. The published evidence base for KPV is limited to in vitro cell-signaling studies and animal-model colitis research (PMID 18061177). No controlled human trial has been published.

How does KPV differ from full-length α-MSH?
Full-length α-MSH acts through melanocortin receptors, engaging pigmentation and appetite-regulation pathways. KPV, the C-terminal tripeptide fragment, is studied for a receptor-independent anti-inflammatory mechanism (NF-κB/MAP-kinase inhibition) and does not meaningfully bind melanocortin receptors at physiologically relevant concentrations.

What does the Certificate of Analysis show?
The Certificate of Analysis published for each batch shows the HPLC purity result, mass-spectrometry molecular-weight confirmation, lot number, and test date, allowing researchers to independently verify the identity and purity of the specific batch they receive.

Can KPV research peptide be shipped internationally?
Shipping availability and any import restrictions for research peptides vary by destination country and are subject to change; researchers should confirm their local import regulations for research-use-only compounds before ordering.

Shipping, Handling & Compliance

This KPV research peptide ships as a lyophilized powder in a sealed glass vial, packaged to maintain cold-chain integrity in transit where applicable. All orders are subject to the research-use-only terms stated on this page, and First Class Science does not sell this or any other research peptide for human or veterinary administration under any circumstance.

Order tracking, batch-specific documentation requests, and general product questions can be directed to First Class Science customer support, which can confirm current lead times and any destination-specific documentation a receiving institution may require for its own compliance records.

Disclaimer: The research summarized above is drawn from third-party published studies conducted in animal or in vitro contexts. It is provided for research and educational reference only and does not describe an intended use, effect, or benefit of this product for any person or animal.

⊗ ALL ITEMS ARE SOLD FOR RESEARCH USE ONLY. This category covers strictly in vitro laboratory testing and scientific experimentation. Content on this site is for education only and does not authorize human or animal use of any kind, which is prohibited by law. Only trained, licensed professionals should handle these materials. Nothing sold here qualifies as a drug, food, or cosmetic, and none of it may be labeled, advertised, or used as such.