Peptides
KPV
10mg
α-MSH C-terminal tripeptide. Mucosal anti-inflammatory and barrier-integrity research.
98.826% purity · Third-party tested · Batch UKPL-2305 · View certificate
- Same-day dispatch before 3pm, Mon to Fri
- Add £40.01 more for free UK delivery
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- Lost, damaged or wrong? Replaced free if you tell us within 48 hours.
- Research use only. For in-vitro laboratory research. Not for use in humans or animals, or in food, drugs or diagnostics. Not evaluated by the MHRA or FDA. The buyer is responsible for handling and regulatory compliance.
Bulk Pricing
Counted across your basket, any mix of products.
| Vials in basket | Discount | Per vial |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | None | £28.99 |
| 3-4 | 5% | £27.54 |
| 5-9 | 8% | £26.67 |
| 10-50 | 12% | £25.51 |
Bacteriostatic Water 10ml
Required to reconstitute lyophilised peptides.
What is KPV?
KPV is the tripeptide Lys-Pro-Val, residues 11 to 13 of alpha-MSH, supplied as a 10mg lyophilised powder. Its route into cells is the PepT1 transporter, not a melanocortin receptor.
Full description
KPV is L-lysyl-L-prolyl-L-valine, a free acid of 342.43 g/mol, also catalogued as alpha-MSH (11-13). It lacks the His-Phe-Arg-Trp core that melanocortin receptors recognise, so it does not act like the intact hormone. Dalmasso et al. (Gastroenterology, 2008) found that nanomolar KPV inhibited NF-κB and MAP kinase signalling and reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion in human intestinal epithelial cells and Jurkat T cells. The effect depended on uptake through PepT1, a di- and tripeptide transporter.
KPV Research Applications
- Signalling assays: NF-κB reporter and MAP kinase work in Caco2-BBE and HT29-Cl.19A epithelial cells and Jurkat T cells (Dalmasso et al., 2008).
- PepT1 transport: KPV competes with radiolabelled PepT1 substrates, and [³H]KPV has been used to measure uptake kinetics.
- Murine colitis: DSS- and TNBS-induced colitis (Dalmasso et al., 2008) and CD45RB(hi) transfer colitis (Kannengiesser et al., 2008).
- MC1R independence: effects in DSS colitis persisted in mice lacking a functional MC1R, so they are at least partly MC1R-independent (Kannengiesser et al., 2008).
Study details
KPV is also a common model cargo in colon-targeted delivery research, including nanoparticles and hydrogels. The evidence base is preclinical throughout, and no human clinical trial of KPV has been published.
KPV vs alpha-MSH and (CKPV)₂
Alpha-MSH is a 13 residue acetylated, amidated hormone that activates MC1R to MC5R through its His-Phe-Arg-Trp core. KPV is its last three residues and lacks that core. Mandrika et al. (Biochem Pharmacol, 2001) found KPV did not compete for MC1 receptor binding in RAW 264.7 macrophages, even at 1 mM, and did not raise cAMP. It still inhibited NF-κB translocation and nitric oxide production, with potency close to alpha-MSH. (CKPV)₂ is a cysteine-linked dimer, a different molecule with its own literature, and its findings do not transfer to KPV.
The C-terminus differs too. Native alpha-MSH ends in valine amide, while research KPV is the free acid, about 1 Da heavier. Check which species a certificate describes.
Research Overview
KPV is the tripeptide L-lysyl-L-prolyl-L-valine, molecular formula C₁₆H₃₀N₄O₄, molecular weight 342.43 g/mol, CAS 64790-08-5. It corresponds to residues 11 to 13 of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, whose full sequence is Ac-Ser-Tyr-Ser-Met-Glu-His-Phe-Arg-Trp-Gly-Lys-Pro-Val-NH₂, so KPV is simply the C-terminal end of that hormone. It is searched as k.p.v, k p v, KPV peptide and alpha-MSH (11-13), all the same molecule. One structural fact governs how the compound should be read: KPV does not contain the His-Phe-Arg-Trp message core that melanocortin receptors recognise, so classical melanocortin receptor agonism is not the mechanism reported in the primary literature. Dalmasso and colleagues (Gastroenterology, 2008) found that nanomolar KPV inhibited NF-κB and MAP kinase signalling and reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine output in Caco2-BBE intestinal epithelial cells and in Jurkat T cells, and that the effect depended on PepT1 (SLC15A1), the proton-coupled di/tripeptide transporter. On that account KPV is carried into the cell and acts intracellularly rather than at a surface receptor. PepT1 is normally a small-intestinal transporter but is induced in colonic epithelium and in immune cells during inflammation, so the transporter that carries the tripeptide is upregulated in the same tissue where the inflammatory models are run, a self-targeting property frequently noted in the PepT1 literature. Kannengiesser and colleagues (Inflamm Bowel Dis, 2008) reported anti-inflammatory activity for the same melanocortin-derived tripeptide in murine models of inflammatory bowel disease. The honest evidence position is that KPV has no human clinical trials, and a large share of the recent literature is delivery engineering, nanoparticles and hydrogels, rather than new mechanism.
Product Specifications
- Molecular Formula
- C₁₆H₃₀N₄O₄
- Molecular Weight
- 342.43 g/mol
- CAS Number
- 67727-97-3
- Sequence
- L-Lys-L-Pro-L-Val (KPV), free acid
- Parent Peptide
- α-MSH (11-13), C-terminal fragment of Ac-SYSMEHFRWGKPV-NH₂
- Reported Transporter
- PepT1 (SLC15A1), proton-coupled di/tripeptide transporter
- Purity
- 98.826% by HPLC
- Batch
- UKPL-2305
- Storage
- -20°C lyophilised, 2-8°C reconstituted
- Appearance
- White lyophilised powder
- Form
- Lyophilised powder
Certificate of Analysis
Third-party tested
- Batch
- UKPL-2305
- Purity
- 98.826%
- Specification
- ≥98.0%
- Method
- RP-HPLC
- Lab
- Janoshik Analytical
- Tested
- Sep 2026
Need the certificate for an earlier batch? Request an older CoA
Storage and Reconstitution
Store the sealed 10mg vial at -20°C, dry and away from light. Keep reconstituted solution refrigerated at 2-8°C and freeze single-use aliquots for longer holding. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles and repeated stopper punctures.
Vials are sold on their own, without bacteriostatic water for mixing or other supplies.
How to reconstitute and handle
Let the vial reach room temperature. Run bacteriostatic water slowly down the inside wall of the vial and swirl gently. KPV is highly water-soluble and gives a clear, colourless solution. A tripeptide holds no secondary structure, so shear is not the concern. Hydrolysis in standing solution is, so prepare only what the experiment needs and refrigerate promptly. Label the vial with the reconstitution date.
- Allow the vial to reach room temperature before opening so condensation does not settle on the powder.
- KPV is highly water-soluble and dissolves readily; the solution should be clear and colourless.
- Note that a tripeptide is too short to hold secondary structure, so the usual concerns about shear-induced unfolding do not apply. The practical liabilities are instead hydrolysis of the two peptide bonds in standing aqueous solution and, in cell work, degradation by aminopeptidases in serum-containing medium.
- Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles and repeated stopper punctures.
- Handle under aseptic conditions, swabbing the stopper of both the KPV vial and the bacteriostatic water vial with alcohol before every needle entry.
- For PepT1-dependent experiments remember that the transporter is proton-coupled, so extracellular pH and the presence of competing di- and tripeptides in the medium will both affect measured uptake.
For the full method, see the peptide reconstitution guide and the reconstitution calculator.
Research References
- PepT1-mediated tripeptide KPV uptake reduces intestinal inflammation (Dalmasso et al., Gastroenterology, 2008)
- 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)
Published research on KPV is indexed on PubMed. See our full UK buyer's guide for KPV and UK buyer's guide for KPV CoA.
KPV Price (UK)
KPV 10mg is for sale at £28.99 per vial, supplied from stock in the UK with a published third-party HPLC certificate. UK delivery is £4.50 by Royal Mail Tracked 24, free over £69.
| Vial | Price | Cost per mg | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| KPV 10mgThis page | £28.99 | £2.90 | In stock |
Prices are in GBP per vial and match the basket. See the FAQ for delivery and payment options, and quality & testing for how each batch is checked.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is k.p.v the same as KPV or α-MSH (11-13)?
Yes, k.p.v, k p v, KPV, KPV peptide, Lys-Pro-Val and α-MSH (11-13) all refer to the same tripeptide. The punctuated spellings are just search variants of the three-letter amino acid code. Quoting the CAS number 64790-08-5 removes any ambiguity when sourcing reference material, since some catalogues list the compound under the α-MSH fragment name rather than the KPV abbreviation.
How does the KPV peptide work at a molecular level?
The mechanism reported in the primary literature is intracellular rather than receptor-mediated. Dalmasso and colleagues (Gastroenterology, 2008) showed that KPV is transported into intestinal epithelial and immune cells by PepT1, the proton-coupled di/tripeptide transporter, and that once inside it inhibits NF-κB and MAP kinase inflammatory signalling with a corresponding reduction in pro-inflammatory cytokine output. Blocking or removing PepT1 removed the effect, which is the evidence that transport is required rather than incidental.
Does KPV activate melanocortin receptors?
Not through the canonical route. Melanocortin receptors recognise the His-Phe-Arg-Trp message sequence of alpha-MSH, and KPV does not contain it, so KPV is not a melanocortin receptor agonist in the way that Melanotan II or the intact hormone are. This is the single most common misreading of the compound: KPV is derived from alpha-MSH but does not inherit its receptor pharmacology, and the published mechanism runs through PepT1-mediated uptake and intracellular signalling instead.
Is (CKPV)₂ the same compound as KPV?
No. (CKPV)₂ is a cysteine-extended dimer of the KPV sequence and is a chemically distinct molecule with its own mass, its own CAS registration and its own separate literature. Conflating the two is a recurring error in secondary write-ups. If a study or certificate refers to (CKPV)₂, its findings should not be attributed to the KPV tripeptide supplied here, and a purity figure for one is not evidence about the other.
Has KPV been studied in humans?
No. There are no human clinical trials of KPV. The published evidence is in-vitro work in intestinal epithelial and immune cell lines plus rodent colitis models, principally DSS- and TNBS-induced colitis in mice, reported by Dalmasso and colleagues (Gastroenterology, 2008) and Kannengiesser and colleagues (Inflamm Bowel Dis, 2008). A substantial part of the more recent literature concerns delivery formulation rather than new mechanism. KPV is not an approved medicine in any jurisdiction and is supplied strictly for laboratory research.
Where can I buy KPV in the UK for research?
UK Peptide Lab supplies research-grade KPV 10mg in the UK, batch UKPL-2305 at 98.826% purity by HPLC, third-party tested with the certificate of analysis published on this product page, and same-day UK dispatch on orders placed before 3pm UK time. Free UK Royal Mail Tracked shipping over £69. Supplied for in-vitro laboratory research only, purchasers must be 18 or over.
Where can I buy KPV in the UK?
UK Peptide Lab has KPV 10mg for sale online, batch UKPL-2305, dispatched from the UK. Orders placed before 3pm on a working day are dispatched the same day by Royal Mail Tracked 24, with free UK delivery over £69.
Is your k p v peptide 10mg independently tested?
Yes. Batch UKPL-2305 was tested by Janoshik Analytical at 98.826% purity by RP-HPLC, against a ≥98.0% specification. Content quantification found 11.02mg of peptide against 10mg declared. The report, #229867, can be checked online with the lab.
What is KPV peptide used for in research?
KPV is used in preclinical research on mucosal inflammation and epithelial barrier biology. Typical work covers NF-κB and MAP kinase assays in intestinal epithelial and immune cells, cytokine measurement, PepT1 transport studies and mouse colitis models. It is also a model cargo in colon-targeted delivery research.
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