KPV: research protocol, dosing & reconstitution
Also known as: Lys-Pro-Val, α-MSH (11-13)
Quick answer
What is KPV?
KPV is the three-amino-acid tail of α-MSH, a hormone the body already makes. Research studies it for calming inflammation — particularly in the gut lining and skin — without the pigment-darkening effects the full hormone produces.
What KPV is
KPV is simply lysine-proline-valine: the last three amino acidsAmino acidThe chemical building block of peptides and proteins. Peptides are short chains of amino acids linked together by peptide bonds.See glossary → of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH). The parent hormone has both anti-inflammatory and pigment-darkening activity; researchers isolated this fragment because it appears to keep the anti-inflammatory part without the tanning effect.
It is one of the smallest compounds in research use, which has a practical consequence: it survives the digestive tract better than most peptides, so gut research often uses oral administration rather than injection.
Mechanism of action
A 2003 study separated the anti-inflammatory activity of the α-MSH core from its C-terminal KPV fragment, showing the tripeptide retains anti-inflammatory effect in its own right [1]. That finding is why KPV is studied at all rather than the whole hormone.
For gut research the route matters. A 2008 study in Gastroenterology reported that KPV is taken up by PepT1 — a transporter expressed in intestinal cells — and that this uptake reduced intestinal inflammation in colitis models [2]. A peptide with its own transporter into the tissue being studied is an unusual and useful property.
What researchers study KPV for
- Intestinal inflammation and colitis models
- Skin inflammation and wound research
- α-MSH and melanocortin signalling
- Anti-inflammatory pathways without pigmentation effects
What dose of KPV do researchers use?
Research literature commonly references doses of 200–500 mcg daily (literature-referenced; no human dosing trials). This is not a recommendation — the table below summarizes protocols as they appear in published literature and trial designs.
| Context | Dose | Frequency | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| General research reference | 200–500 mcg | Once daily | 2–4 week courses referenced |
| Gut-focused reference (oral) | Within the same range | Once daily, oral | Course-based; no established schedule |
← Swipe to see the full table
Half-life and dosing timing
Half-life: Short; not well characterised in humans. Route referenced in research: Subcutaneous, oral, or topical (research). Half-lifeHalf-lifeHow long it takes for half of a compound to be eliminated from the body. Half-life determines how often researchers dose a compound in protocols.See glossary → is short and has not been well characterised in humans, so protocols reference once-daily dosing. For gut research the oral route is preferred specifically because PepT1 transports the peptide into intestinal tissue — the site being studied.
Titration: start low, go slow
No established titrationTitrationStarting at a low dose and increasing gradually on a schedule. Research protocols titrate to assess tolerance — 'start low, go slow.'See glossary → schedule exists. Literature-referenced protocols start at the low end of the range, which reflects caution in the absence of human dose-ranging data rather than a published escalation plan.
Skip the KPV math
Enter vial size, water volume, and target dose — the free calculator returns concentration, injection volume, and exact U-100 syringe units.
How is KPV reconstituted?
| Vial size | BAC water | Concentration | Worked example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 mg | 2 mL | 5,000 mcg/mL | 500 mcg = 0.1 mL = 10 units on a U-100 syringe |
| 5 mg | 2 mL | 2,500 mcg/mL | 250 mcg = 0.1 mL = 10 units on a U-100 syringe |
Add 2 mL of bacteriostatic waterBAC water (bacteriostatic water)Sterile water containing 0.9% benzyl alcohol, which suppresses bacterial growth. It is the standard diluent used to reconstitute lyophilized peptides for multi-dose research vials.See glossary → to a 10 mg vialVialThe small sealed glass container peptides are supplied in, topped with a rubber septum that a syringe needle can pass through.See glossary →: 10 mg ÷ 2 mL = 5 mg/mL, or 5,000 mcgMicrogram (mcg / µg)One millionth of a gram, or one thousandth of a milligram. Most peptide research doses are measured in micrograms.See glossary →/mL. A 500 mcg dose is 500 ÷ 5,000 = 0.1 mL — 10 units on a U-100 syringeU-100 syringeAn insulin syringe calibrated so that 100 units equal 1 mL. The standard syringe referenced in peptide research; each unit equals 0.01 mL.See glossary →.
New to the process? Read the full step-by-step reconstitution guide.
How long does reconstituted KPV last?
LyophilizedLyophilizedFreeze-dried. Peptides are shipped as a lyophilized powder ('puck') because the dry form is far more stable than a solution. It must be reconstituted before use in research.See glossary →: refrigerated, stable roughly 12–24 months. ReconstitutedReconstitutionThe process of mixing a freeze-dried (lyophilized) peptide powder with bacteriostatic water to create a solution of known concentration.See glossary →: refrigerate at 2–8°C and use within weeks. Standard dark, cold handling applies.
What is KPV stacked with in research?
Frequently referenced alongside BPC-157 in gut-focused research — BPC-157 for repair signalling in the gut lining, KPV for the inflammatory side of the same picture.
Side effects observed in research
Very few effects are reported beyond injection-site irritation. As with other thinly studied compounds, that reflects the small volume of human data rather than an established safety record — there are no human dosing trials.
- Injection-site irritation
- Few effects reported; human safety data is absent
Frequently asked questions
What dose of KPV do researchers use?
Literature commonly references 200–500 mcg once daily. There are no human dosing trials behind that range, so it describes protocol convention rather than a clinically established dose.
Can KPV be taken orally?
Gut research often does. KPV is transported into intestinal cells by PepT1, so oral administration delivers it directly to the tissue under study — unusual among peptides, most of which are destroyed by digestion.
Does KPV cause tanning like Melanotan?
It is studied precisely because it appears not to. KPV is the anti-inflammatory tail of α-MSH separated from the parts of the hormone that drive pigmentation.
Is KPV approved for anything?
No. It is not an approved drug in Canada or elsewhere and is sold strictly as a Research Use Only compound.
Related research peptides
BPC-157
A synthetic peptide fragment studied for tissue repair, tendon/ligament and gut healing in animal research.
Healing & RecoveryTB-500
A synthetic version of a region of Thymosin Beta-4, studied for cell migration, angiogenesis and tissue repair.
Growth Hormone SecretagogueCJC-1295
A growth-hormone-releasing hormone analog studied for stimulating GH release; often blended with Ipamorelin.
Browse all Healing & Recovery peptides or start with the beginner’s guide to research peptides.
References
- 1.Getting SJ, et al. Dissection of the anti-inflammatory effect of the core and C-terminal (KPV) alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone peptides. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2003. PubMed ↗
- 2.Dalmasso G, et al. PepT1-mediated tripeptide KPV uptake reduces intestinal inflammation. Gastroenterology. 2008. PubMed ↗