KPV
Also called Lys-Pro-Val, Alpha-MSH (11-13), α-MSH 11-13
Educational only, not medical advice. Dosaly reports what has been studied; it isn't a recommendation to use KPV or any amount of it. Talk to a clinician.
News · October 30, 2026
Draft HHS policy on compounding
On Oct 30, 2026, HHS said it won't act against licensed pharmacies that compound certain peptides while the FDA reviews them. News reports say the list includes BPC-157, KPV, TB-500, MOTS-c, Epitalon and Semax. It's a draft, not FDA approval.
Not approved as a medicine by the FDA or EMA (as of October 2026).
Research applications
- Colitis and gut inflammation (mouse models)
- Peritonitis (mouse model)
- Uptake by gut cells through the PepT1 transporter (lab studies)
- Inflammation signalling in human skin cells (cell studies)
- Gel and nanoparticle delivery (mouse colitis)
What studies have looked at, not proven uses.
What it is
KPV is a tiny piece, three amino acids long, of a natural hormone. It's been studied for inflammation, mostly in mice with gut inflammation. There are no controlled human trials.
More detail
KPV is a three-amino-acid peptide (lysine, proline, valine) that forms the very end of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH), a hormone involved in skin pigmentation and inflammation. Unlike the full hormone, KPV has been studied mainly for its anti-inflammatory activity. Mouse studies have used models of colitis and peritonitis, and one study found that gut cells take it up through PepT1, a peptide transporter. Cell studies in human skin cells have examined its signalling. Recent work focuses on delivery systems such as gels and nanoparticles in mouse colitis. No published controlled human trials of KPV were found.
Evidence listed here
- 2 animal studies
- 1 lab (cell) study
Results from cells and animals often don't carry over to people. How to read peptide research
Molecular info
- Class
- Tripeptide (alpha-MSH 11-13)
- Length
- 3 amino acids
- Sequence
- Lys-Pro-Val
- Research areas
- Inflammation
The last three amino acids of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone.
Research
- Animal studyGastroenterology · 2008PepT1-mediated tripeptide KPV uptake reduces intestinal inflammation.
Mouse colitis models plus intestinal cell studies on PepT1 uptake.
- Animal studyJ Pharmacol Exp Ther · 2003Dissection of the anti-inflammatory effect of the core and C-terminal (KPV) alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone peptides.
Mouse model of crystal-induced peritonitis.
- Cell / lab studyJ Invest Dermatol · 2004alpha-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone, MSH 11-13 KPV and adrenocorticotropic hormone signalling in human keratinocyte cells.
Signalling in human keratinocyte cells.