KPV Peptide (Lys-Pro-Val): Research Guide for Canada
For laboratory research use only. Nothing on this page is medical advice, and no compound discussed here is offered for human use. KPV is not authorised by Health Canada for human use in any form.
In short: what KPV is
KPV is a synthetic tripeptide — H-Lys-Pro-Val-OH — identical to the three C-terminal residues (positions 11–13) of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH). At roughly 342 Da it is one of the smallest peptides in the research catalogue, and that small size is central to why it is studied: it is transported across intestinal epithelial cells by the peptide transporter PepT1, which put it at the centre of a substantial preclinical literature on inflammatory signalling in the gut. It is studied in vitro and in preclinical models only, and Quantum supplies it as a 10mg lyophilized research vial — on its own, and as a component of the KLOW 80 blend.
Class and mechanism, as described in the literature
KPV sits in the melanocortin family tree without behaving like its parent. Full-length α-MSH is a 13-amino-acid melanocortin-receptor agonist; KPV is its C-terminal fragment, and the literature has long debated whether KPV’s activity in inflammatory-signalling models depends on the melanocortin-1 receptor at all — several lines of work report receptor-independent, intracellular effects instead, including modulation of NF-κB pathway activation in cell models. That mechanistic question is unresolved, and this page does not resolve it; what the papers agree on is the readout, not the route.
| α-MSH (full length) | KPV | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 13 amino acids | 3 amino acids (positions 11–13) |
| Origin | Endogenous melanocortin hormone | Synthetic C-terminal fragment |
| Research role | Pigmentation and melanocortin-receptor pharmacology | Inflammatory-signalling and epithelial-barrier models |
What laboratory research has examined
Intestinal epithelial and colitis models
The largest KPV literature by far. The foundational paper is Dalmasso et al., Gastroenterology, 2008, which showed that PepT1-mediated uptake of KPV reduces inflammatory signalling in intestinal epithelial cells and in mouse colitis models. Follow-on work (Viennois et al., Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 2016) extended the PepT1–KPV thread into colitis-associated models. These are cell-line and rodent findings about signalling pathways — not treatment claims.
Skin and mast-cell models
A smaller preclinical thread examines KPV in dermal and mast-cell models, consistent with its α-MSH ancestry. The work is in-vitro and animal-model only; no human dermatology evidence exists.
Oxidative-stress and cell-signalling assays
KPV appears as a probe compound in assays of cytokine production and NF-κB activation in several cell types — the mechanistic layer beneath the colitis-model work.
Delivery-vehicle research
Because KPV is small and PepT1-transportable, it became a favourite cargo in oral-delivery research — notably Xiao et al., Molecular Therapy, 2017, which packaged KPV in hyaluronic-acid-functionalized nanoparticles for targeted delivery in ulcerative-colitis models. This thread is about delivery engineering as much as about KPV itself; our oral peptides guide covers why oral delivery is the open question for peptides generally.
Evidence: the signal and the gaps
The signal: a consistent, replicated preclinical record in epithelial and colitis models from multiple independent laboratories, anchored by well-cited papers in serious journals. The gaps: there are no human clinical trials of KPV, no established human pharmacokinetics, and the doses, vehicles and routes vary widely across the animal literature, which makes cross-study comparison hard. The distance between “robust in rodent colitis models” and “evidence in people” has not been closed, and any page that implies otherwise is ahead of the science.
KPV at Quantum: standalone vial and the KLOW blend
Quantum now stocks KPV two ways: as a standalone KPV 10mg lyophilized vial, and as a component of KLOW 80 (BPC-157 10mg · TB-500 10mg · KPV 10mg · GHK-Cu 50mg). GLOW is the related blend without KPV. Which format suits a laboratory depends on whether the research design needs the single compound or the combined vial — the compounds are the same either way.
Formats seen in research supply
The reference format is the lyophilized vial, reconstituted with bacteriostatic water for laboratory use — that is what Quantum supplies. Some vendors sell KPV as oral capsules or nasal sprays; those formats raise the bioavailability questions covered in our oral peptides and nasal spray guides. Quantum does not sell KPV capsules or sprays.
Purity, COA and sourcing
A research-grade KPV certificate should show HPLC purity and mass-spec identity for the specific batch, from an independent laboratory, with the batch number printed on the vial. Quantum’s per-batch testing program applies to KPV as it does to every compound: the batch certificate posts to the lab results hub as testing completes, and the KLOW batch COA covers the KPV input of the blend. How to read one: the COA guide; how to vet any vendor: the supplier guide.
Regulatory status in Canada
KPV is not authorised by Health Canada for human use in any form — a search of Health Canada’s Drug Product Database returns no product containing the tripeptide (verified October 2026). It may be sold in Canada only as a research chemical for laboratory use. The wider framework is covered in peptide legality in Canada.
Frequently asked questions
What is the KPV peptide?
KPV is Lys-Pro-Val, the C-terminal tripeptide of alpha-MSH, studied in laboratory models of inflammatory signalling and epithelial barrier function. It is supplied for research use only.
What has KPV been studied for?
The published preclinical record covers intestinal epithelial and colitis models (the largest thread), skin and mast-cell models, cell-signalling assays, and oral-delivery vehicle research. All of it is in-vitro or animal-model work; none of it is human clinical evidence.
Is KPV approved or safe for human use?
No. KPV has not been evaluated or authorised by Health Canada or the FDA for human use, it is supplied strictly for in-vitro research, and safety in humans has not been established.
Does Quantum sell KPV on its own?
Yes — as of October 2026 Quantum stocks a standalone KPV 10mg research vial, in addition to the KLOW 80 blend, which contains 10mg of KPV per 80mg vial.
What should a KPV certificate of analysis show?
Batch-matched HPLC purity and mass-spec identity from an independent laboratory, with the batch number printed on the vial. Quantum’s certificates post to the lab results hub as each batch completes testing.
What is the KPV dosage?
We don’t provide protocols: this material is sold for laboratory research only. Concentrations in the literature are study-specific, in-vitro or animal figures and are not guidance of any kind.
Related research guides: KLOW blend · GHK-Cu · BPC-157 · Oral peptides · Nasal sprays · Healing & recovery research
For laboratory research use only. Not for human consumption. This page summarises published research for educational purposes and is not medical advice.