KLOW

What is KLOW?

KLOW is a supplier designation for a pre-blended four-component research vial, not a single chemical entity. The KLOW 80mg vial contains KPV 10mg (Lys-Pro-Val, the C-terminal tripeptide of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone at residues 11 to 13, 342.4 g/mol, CAS 64790-08-5), BPC-157 10mg (pentadecapeptide GEPPPGKPADDAGLV, 1419.53 g/mol, CAS 137525-51-0), TB-500 10mg (synthetic thymosin beta 4, 43 residues, 4963.4 g/mol, CAS 77591-33-4) and GHK-Cu 50mg (glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine copper(II) complex, 403.9 g/mol, CAS 89030-95-5), co-lyophilised in one container. Compositionally it is the GLOW three-peptide blend with KPV added, which is where the K in the name comes from. The four components enter solution together at a fixed ratio on a single reconstitution and cannot subsequently be separated. The combination has not been studied as a combination; the evidence base is four separate single-compound literatures. Supplied as lyophilised powder for in-vitro research use only, not a licensed medicine, and no therapeutic, cosmetic or appearance claim is made or implied.

KLOW vs GLOW

KLOW is GLOW plus KPV. GLOW is 70mg total, BPC-157 10mg with TB-500 10mg and GHK-Cu 50mg; KLOW is 80mg total, the same three at the same masses plus KPV 10mg. The relevant difference is mechanistic rather than quantitative. BPC-157, TB-500 and GHK-Cu are studied respectively for VEGFR2-associated angiogenic signalling, G-actin sequestration and cell motility, and copper delivery with matrix metalloproteinase and collagen-synthesis endpoints in fibroblast culture. KPV is the outlier: Dalmasso et al. (Gastroenterology, 2008) reported that it is taken up through the di- and tripeptide transporter PepT1, which is expressed in the small intestine and induced in the colon during inflammation, with reduced NF-κB activation in human epithelial and immune cell lines, and Viennois et al. (Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol, 2016) reported the effect was lost in PepT1-knockout mice. Its selectivity is therefore transporter-mediated and site-dependent, not receptor-subtype selectivity, and Mandrika et al. (Biochem Pharmacol, 2001) reported evidence for mechanisms partly separate from classical melanocortin receptor and cAMP signalling. Choose KLOW when a barrier or mucosal inflammation model is part of the design, GLOW when it is not, and individual vials whenever a single-compound control is required. Both are supplied here as one pre-blended vial, where some suppliers sell them as five- and six-vial kits.

KLOW Research Applications

Every application below belongs to one component in isolation; nothing has been published on the four together. KPV research sits largely in mucosal and intestinal inflammation models with NF-κB signalling as the recurring endpoint. Dalmasso et al. (Gastroenterology, 2008) reported PepT1-mediated uptake in human epithelial and immune cell lines with reduced NF-κB activation and attenuated experimental colitis in mice; Viennois et al. (Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol, 2016) reported that the effect was absent in PepT1-knockout mice, establishing the transporter as the gating step; Kannengiesser et al. (Inflamm Bowel Dis, 2008) reported activity in murine IBD models that was partly independent of MC1R; and Mandrika et al. (Biochem Pharmacol, 2001) examined melanocortin peptides on NF-κB DNA binding and nitric oxide production in RAW 264.7 macrophage-like cells and reported evidence for dual mechanisms of action. There are no human trials of bare KPV, and the (CKPV)₂ dimer that does have an investigational record is a chemically different molecule whose results do not transfer. The remaining three components carry the literatures described on the GLOW and single-vial pages: BPC-157 in angiogenesis, focal adhesion signalling via FAK and paxillin, and gastrointestinal mucosal models; TB-500 in G-actin sequestration, endothelial and keratinocyte migration, and cardiac and corneal repair models, with randomised placebo-controlled human data existing only for thymosin beta 4 as a topical ophthalmic formulation; GHK-Cu in copper transport, matrikine signalling and matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression in fibroblast culture. KLOW is also used simply as a convenience preparation where four compounds are wanted in one solution and component-level resolution is not required.

Reconstitution Guide

Allow vials to reach room temperature, then sterilise the rubber stopper of both the peptide vial and the bacteriostatic water vial with an alcohol swab. Slowly draw your bacteriostatic water into a sterile insulin syringe, then inject it gently down the inner glass wall of the peptide vial, never directly onto the lyophilised powder. Once added, gently swirl the vial in a slow circular motion until fully dissolved. Never shake or vortex. The solution should be clear and colourless. Label the vial with the reconstitution date and store immediately. Three blend-specific points apply. Never shake or vortex, the 43-residue thymosin beta 4 component is shear sensitive. The reconstituted solution will not be colourless: expect a blue to blue-violet tint from the Cu(II) centre of the GHK-Cu component, and treat a colourless or green-tinged solution as evidence the copper complex has been disrupted rather than merely diluted, with visible absorption around 500 to 600 nm as the standard check. Finally, KPV at 342.4 g/mol is the smallest species in the vial and the one most readily lost to surface adsorption or to any filtration or dialysis step with a molecular weight cut-off, so plan working dilutions accordingly. Reconstitute away from direct light in glass or high-grade polypropylene labware, avoiding prolonged contact with chelating or metallic surfaces.

See our full peptide reconstitution guide and reconstitution calculator for step-by-step protocol.

Storage Instructions

Lyophilised vials should be stored at -20°C, protected from light and moisture, and remain stable for up to 24 months. Once reconstituted with bacteriostatic water, store the solution at 2-8°C (standard refrigerator) and use within approximately 3 months. For storage beyond that, prepare single-use aliquots at -20°C, where reconstituted peptide remains stable for up to 6 months. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles and always handle under sterile laboratory conditions. As with any copper(II) peptide blend, the whole vial must be handled to the standard of its most fragile component, so keep both lyophilised vials and reconstituted solution shielded from UV and fluorescent light and use amber or foil-wrapped vessels for aliquots. Freeze-thaw cycling can disrupt the copper coordination sphere in addition to degrading the peptide backbones, making single-use aliquots preferable to repeated access of one stock.

Frequently Asked Questions

Research References

• PepT1-mediated tripeptide KPV uptake reduces intestinal inflammation (Dalmasso et al., Gastroenterology, 2008)
• Critical role of PepT1 in promoting colitis-associated cancer and therapeutic benefits of the PepT1-mediated tripeptide KPV in a murine model (Viennois et al., Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol, 2016)
• Melanocortin-derived tripeptide KPV has anti-inflammatory potential in murine models of inflammatory bowel disease (Kannengiesser et al., Inflamm Bowel Dis, 2008)
• Effects of melanocortin peptides on NF-kappaB DNA binding and nitric oxide production in RAW 264.7 cells, evidence for dual mechanisms of action (Mandrika et al., Biochem Pharmacol, 2001)
• Therapeutic potential of pro-angiogenic BPC157 is associated with VEGFR2 activation and up-regulation (Hsieh et al., J Mol Med, 2017)
• The actin binding site on thymosin beta4 promotes angiogenesis (Philp et al., FASEB J, 2003)
• The tripeptide-copper complex GHK-Cu stimulates matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression by fibroblast cultures (Siméon et al., Life Sci, 2000)

Related Research Compounds

• → GLOW 70mg
• → KPV 10mg
• → BPC-157 5mg
• → TB-500 5mg
• → GHK-Cu 50mg
• → Bacteriostatic Water 10ml