Research
Every indexed KPV study with model, system, what was measured, limitations and evidence grade. Filter by model type, year, mechanism or context.
By the KPV Peptide editorial team · Last reviewed · Editorial review: approved by Ryan DeLauz (bulk sign-off in chat, 2026-11-11)
This database lists 45 verified KPV records: 22 animal studies, 16 cell studies, 2 ex vivo studies on human tissue or blood, 1 analytical method and 4 reviews. There are no human clinical studies, which matches FDA’s 2026 finding [FDA briefing 2026]. Each record links to PubMed and states what was measured and its limitations.
Filter 45 verified records. Filters are saved in the address bar, so a filtered view can be shared.
45 of 45 records
Measured colonic accumulation and inflammatory endpoints; the conjugate reached 3.8-fold higher colonic accumulation than free KPV.
Reviews peptide use in sport, naming KPV among promoted fragments, and notes limited clinical evidence.
Measured lipid accumulation, FAS expression, ROS, ERK, AKT/mTORC1 and PPAR-gamma phosphorylation in oleic-acid-loaded HepG2 cells treated with KPV.
Measured Oil Red O staining (about 55% lower), triglyceride content (about 38% lower) and adipogenic markers in vitro, and body weight, adipose mass and plasma lipids in high-fat-diet mice.
Measured lipid accumulation, ROS, p38/NF-kappaB activation and NLRP3 inflammasome assembly in oxLDL-treated macrophages exposed to KPV.
Measured viability, ROS, ERK/p38 activation, apoptosis proteins, caspase-1 and IL-1 beta after PM10 exposure; KPV-treated cultures showed lower ROS and IL-1 beta and higher viability.
Measured body weight, colon length, disease activity index, MPO, NO, ROS, TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6 and tight-junction proteins; the co-assembled nanoparticles exceeded both the KPV-only and FK506-only groups.
Measured vascular calcification, inflammatory markers and autophagy in mice given KPV-rapamycin nanoparticles.
Reviews melanocortin-system research in intestinal inflammation models.
Measured mucosal adhesion, epithelial barrier recovery and gut flora composition in TNBS-treated rats given the hydrogel-bound KPV.
Measured release kinetics, stability at 37 C, weight loss, disease activity index, colon length, MPO, TNF-alpha and IL-6 in TNBS-treated rats given the hydrogel formulation.
Measured food intake, body weight, gingival histology, CK10/PCNA, IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha and IL-10 in rats treated with the KPV-loaded hydrogel.
Reported a lysine glycoalkylation method; Ac-KPV-NH2 and its analogues showed no antimicrobial activity, while the modified peptides resisted proteolytic enzymes.
Measured mucosal damage and TNF-alpha; the HA-functionalised nanoparticle/hydrogel system outperformed a non-targeted KPV nanoparticle system.
Measured transdermal permeation; passive permeation was below the 0.01 ug/mL detection limit, microneedles gave 4.4 ug/cm2/h, and iontophoresis plus microneedles gave 35-fold more than microneedles alone.
Measured tumour number and size in a chemically induced colitis-associated tumour model; tumour burden tracked PepT1 expression, and KPV reduced tumorigenesis in wild-type but not PepT1-knockout mice.
Validated a reversed-phase HPLC assay (LOD 0.01 ug/mL, LOQ 0.25 ug/mL); under acid, alkali and peroxide stress KPV degraded mainly to lys-pro-diketopiperazine.
Measured secondary lesion volume, microglial activation and neuronal apoptosis; lesion volume and apoptosis markers were lower, while TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta expression did not change.
Measured NF-kappaB reporter activity, MMP-9, IL-8 and eotaxin; KPV reduced them and the study linked this to inhibition of p65RelA nuclear import at the importin-alpha3 site.
Measured bacterial killing and membrane depolarisation; the C-terminal fragments killed more than 90% of cells at micromolar concentrations.
Measured epithelial inflammatory responses and colitis parameters; nanoparticle-delivered KPV gave similar effects at a concentration reported as 12,000-fold lower than free KPV solution.
Measured PepT1-mediated uptake, NF-kappaB and MAP kinase activation, and colonic cytokine mRNA; nanomolar KPV reduced these readouts and the two chemically induced colitis models showed lower inflammation scores.
Measured weight recovery, histological infiltrates and colonic myeloperoxidase; KPV-treated mice showed faster weight regain, fewer infiltrates and lower MPO, including MC1R-deficient mice.
Measured bacterial growth; the acetylated, amidated tripeptides were antibacterial and so was a lysine-free variant, identifying an X-Pro-D/L-Val motif.
Reviews alpha-MSH and its C-terminal tripeptides across in vitro and animal literature.
Reviews anti-inflammatory alpha-MSH-related peptides.
Measured corneal re-epithelialisation; 8 of 8 KPV-treated corneas were re-epithelialised at 60 h vs none of the controls, and an NOS inhibitor blocked the effect.
Measured cAMP and intracellular calcium; no cAMP rise was detected, while rapid calcium responses occurred only when the cAMP pathway was inhibited.
Measured neutrophil accumulation in peritonitis models; KPV reduced it, the MC3/4 antagonist SHU9119 did not block it, KPV did not raise cAMP, and the effect persisted in MC1R-deficient mice.
Measured melanocortin-receptor binding, cAMP and nitric oxide; the tripeptides did not bind MCRs or raise cAMP but dose-dependently inhibited stimulated NO production.
Measured nitric oxide output and NF-kappaB nuclear translocation; the tripeptide inhibited both, and the study examined MC1 receptor binding, which FDA later cited as evidence KPV does not displace alpha-MSH.
Measured nuclear localisation of NF-kappaB subunits p50, p65 and c-Rel; the D-proline analogue suppressed it dose-dependently.
Measured colony formation of S. aureus and viability/germ-tube formation of C. albicans; alpha-MSH peptides including KPV reduced both across a broad concentration range.
Measured glutathione peroxidase activity and intracellular peroxide; MSH 11-13 inhibited the stimulated activity at 10-100-fold higher concentrations than alpha-MSH.
Measured HIV-1 p24 release and NF-kappaB activation in infected cells; KPV reduced viral expression and NF-kappaB activation.
Measured nitrite, TNF-alpha and iNOS/TNF-alpha mRNA in stimulated microglia; both alpha-MSH and the tripeptide reduced them.
Measured TNF-alpha, IL-6 and nitric oxide output from stimulated microglia; melanocortin peptides including the tripeptide reduced them concentration-dependently.
Measured IL-1 and TNF-alpha production in donated blood samples; melanocortins including the tripeptide reduced both concentration-dependently.
Measured inflammation induced by IL-1 beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha, LTB4, PAF and IL-8; the analogue inhibited the cytokine-driven responses but not LTB4, PAF or IL-8.
Measured food intake after central IL-1; the tripeptide blocked IL-1-induced anorexia at the higher of two doses only.
Compared stereochemical analogues; L-Pro12 was required for activity and D-Val13 substitution increased activity about four-fold over the parent tripeptide.
Measured paw edema and contact-sensitivity responses in mice; MSH peptides including the tripeptide reduced both.
Measured irritant-induced ear swelling in mice; the tripeptide reduced swelling in a dose-related fashion.
Compared fever reduction by alpha-MSH fragments (11-13, 10-13, 8-13); all reduced fever dose-dependently and none matched alpha-MSH(1-13).
Measured body-temperature response to pyrogen in rabbits given the tripeptide centrally or peripherally; the tripeptide reduced fever with lower potency than full-length alpha-MSH.
Read this first: each number counts studies that used a model, not results that were favourable. Cell and animal findings do not show that KPV works, or is safe, in people. The human clinical column is empty because no human clinical studies exist.
| Research category | In vitro | Ex vivo | Animal | Human clinical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intestinal inflammation models | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Skin and keratinocyte models | 0 | |||
| Tissue-repair models | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Airway epithelium | 0 | 0 | ||
| Neuroinflammation models | 0 | 0 | ||
| Antimicrobial assays | 0 | 0 | ||
| Lipid and adipocyte models | 0 | 0 | ||
| Vascular models | 0 | 0 | ||
| Systemic inflammation and fever models | 0 | |||
| Tumour-model research | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Delivery and formulation | 0 | 0 | ||
| Chemistry and analysis | 0 | 0 | 0 |
One indexed study used a tumour model. In it, mice received a chemical regimen producing colitis-associated tumours, and tumour burden was measured with and without KPV [Viennois 2016]. It is a mouse-model result; no human cancer study of KPV exists.
The full table below is the same data as the explorer, in a form that works without JavaScript. Reviews are excluded here and listed in the explorer.
| Study | Model | What was measured | Limitations | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheng 2026 Sci Adv Intestinal inflammation models · Airway epithelium · Delivery and formulation | Animal Mouse colitis and acute lung injury models | Measured colonic accumulation and inflammatory endpoints; the conjugate reached 3.8-fold higher colonic accumulation than free KPV. | Prodrug conjugate, not free KPV. | Evidence grade C |
| Lee 2026 Cytotechnology Lipid and adipocyte models | In vitro Human HepG2 hepatocytes (oleic-acid lipid loading) | Measured lipid accumulation, FAS expression, ROS, ERK, AKT/mTORC1 and PPAR-gamma phosphorylation in oleic-acid-loaded HepG2 cells treated with KPV. | Single hepatoma cell line. | Evidence grade D |
| An 2026 Tissue Cell Lipid and adipocyte models | Animal 3T3-L1 preadipocytes; high-fat-diet mice (oral) | Measured Oil Red O staining (about 55% lower), triglyceride content (about 38% lower) and adipogenic markers in vitro, and body weight, adipose mass and plasma lipids in high-fat-diet mice. | Single laboratory; 2026 publication not yet independently replicated. | Evidence grade C |
| Bai 2026 Tissue Cell Vascular models | In vitro RAW264.7 macrophages (oxidised LDL) | Measured lipid accumulation, ROS, p38/NF-kappaB activation and NLRP3 inflammasome assembly in oxLDL-treated macrophages exposed to KPV. | Single murine cell line. | Evidence grade D |
| Sung 2025 Tissue Cell Skin and keratinocyte models | In vitro Human HaCaT keratinocytes and 3D skin model exposed to PM10 | Measured viability, ROS, ERK/p38 activation, apoptosis proteins, caspase-1 and IL-1 beta after PM10 exposure; KPV-treated cultures showed lower ROS and IL-1 beta and higher viability. | Cell line and reconstructed tissue only. | Evidence grade D |
| Zhang 2024 Front Pharmacol Intestinal inflammation models · Delivery and formulation | Animal Acute and chronic DSS colitis in mice; macrophages | Measured body weight, colon length, disease activity index, MPO, NO, ROS, TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6 and tight-junction proteins; the co-assembled nanoparticles exceeded both the KPV-only and FK506-only groups. | Combination with an immunosuppressant; free-KPV arm was a comparator, not the focus. | Evidence grade C |
| Zhang 2024 Adv Healthc Mater Vascular models | Animal Mouse vascular calcification model; cells in vitro | Measured vascular calcification, inflammatory markers and autophagy in mice given KPV-rapamycin nanoparticles. | Combination with rapamycin; KPV contribution not isolated. | Evidence grade C |
| Zhao 2022 Acta Biomater Intestinal inflammation models · Delivery and formulation | Animal TNBS colitis in rats (intracolonic) | Measured mucosal adhesion, epithelial barrier recovery and gut flora composition in TNBS-treated rats given the hydrogel-bound KPV. | Formulation effect; rat model. | Evidence grade C |
| Sun 2021 ACS Biomater Sci Eng Intestinal inflammation models · Delivery and formulation | Animal TNBS colitis in rats (rectal) | Measured release kinetics, stability at 37 C, weight loss, disease activity index, colon length, MPO, TNF-alpha and IL-6 in TNBS-treated rats given the hydrogel formulation. | Formulation effect; rat model. | Evidence grade C |
| Shao 2021 Biomater Sci Tissue-repair models · Antimicrobial assays · Delivery and formulation | Animal Rat chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis; MRSA-infected gingival wounds | Measured food intake, body weight, gingival histology, CK10/PCNA, IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha and IL-10 in rats treated with the KPV-loaded hydrogel. | Carrier contains EGCG, which is itself antibacterial; effects are of the combination. | Evidence grade C |
| Songok 2018 PLoS One Chemistry and analysis · Antimicrobial assays | In vitro Bacterial cultures; protease stability | Reported a lysine glycoalkylation method; Ac-KPV-NH2 and its analogues showed no antimicrobial activity, while the modified peptides resisted proteolytic enzymes. | Negative antimicrobial result conflicts with earlier reports under different conditions. | Evidence grade D |
| Xiao 2017 Mol Ther Intestinal inflammation models · Delivery and formulation | Animal Colonic epithelial cells and macrophages; mouse colitis model | Measured mucosal damage and TNF-alpha; the HA-functionalised nanoparticle/hydrogel system outperformed a non-targeted KPV nanoparticle system. | Formulation effect; mouse model. | Evidence grade C |
| Pawar 2017 J Pharm Sci Skin and keratinocyte models · Delivery and formulation | Ex vivo Dermatomed human skin (in vitro permeation) | Measured transdermal permeation; passive permeation was below the 0.01 ug/mL detection limit, microneedles gave 4.4 ug/cm2/h, and iontophoresis plus microneedles gave 35-fold more than microneedles alone. | Excised skin; no biological endpoint. | Evidence grade D |
| Viennois 2016 Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol Intestinal inflammation models · Tumour-model research | Animal AOM/DSS colitis-associated tumour model in WT, hPepT1-transgenic and PepT1-KO mice; human colonic biopsies | Measured tumour number and size in a chemically induced colitis-associated tumour model; tumour burden tracked PepT1 expression, and KPV reduced tumorigenesis in wild-type but not PepT1-knockout mice. | Mouse model; the human biopsies measured PepT1 expression only, with no KPV exposure. | Evidence grade C |
| Pawar 2015 Biomed Chromatogr Chemistry and analysis | Analytical Aqueous solutions and skin homogenates | Validated a reversed-phase HPLC assay (LOD 0.01 ug/mL, LOQ 0.25 ug/mL); under acid, alkali and peroxide stress KPV degraded mainly to lys-pro-diketopiperazine. | Analytical method paper. | Evidence grade D |
| Schaible 2013 PLoS One Neuroinflammation models | Animal Mouse controlled cortical impact (traumatic brain injury model) | Measured secondary lesion volume, microglial activation and neuronal apoptosis; lesion volume and apoptosis markers were lower, while TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta expression did not change. | Single time-point administration; mixed inflammatory readouts. | Evidence grade C |
| Land 2012 Int J Physiol Pathophysiol Pharmacol Airway epithelium | In vitro Human bronchial epithelial cells 16HBE14o- (TNF-alpha, RSV) | Measured NF-kappaB reporter activity, MMP-9, IL-8 and eotaxin; KPV reduced them and the study linked this to inhibition of p65RelA nuclear import at the importin-alpha3 site. | Single immortalised cell line; single-author study. | Evidence grade D |
| Singh 2011 Antimicrob Agents Chemother Antimicrobial assays | In vitro Methicillin-sensitive and -resistant S. aureus | Measured bacterial killing and membrane depolarisation; the C-terminal fragments killed more than 90% of cells at micromolar concentrations. | Culture assays only. | Evidence grade D |
| Laroui 2010 Gastroenterology Intestinal inflammation models · Delivery and formulation | Animal Caco2-BBE cells; DSS colitis in mice | Measured epithelial inflammatory responses and colitis parameters; nanoparticle-delivered KPV gave similar effects at a concentration reported as 12,000-fold lower than free KPV solution. | Formulation effect, not free KPV; mouse model. | Evidence grade C |
| Dalmasso 2008 Gastroenterology Intestinal inflammation models | Animal Caco2-BBE, HT29-Cl.19A and Jurkat cells; DSS and TNBS colitis models in mice | Measured PepT1-mediated uptake, NF-kappaB and MAP kinase activation, and colonic cytokine mRNA; nanomolar KPV reduced these readouts and the two chemically induced colitis models showed lower inflammation scores. | Chemically induced mouse models; cytokine and histology endpoints only. | Evidence grade C |
| Kannengiesser 2008 Inflamm Bowel Dis Intestinal inflammation models | Animal DSS colitis and CD45RB(hi) transfer colitis in mice; MC1R e/e mice | Measured weight recovery, histological infiltrates and colonic myeloperoxidase; KPV-treated mice showed faster weight regain, fewer infiltrates and lower MPO, including MC1R-deficient mice. | Mouse models only; group sizes not in abstract. | Evidence grade C |
| Charnley 2008 Peptides Antimicrobial assays | In vitro S. aureus and E. coli cultures | Measured bacterial growth; the acetylated, amidated tripeptides were antibacterial and so was a lysine-free variant, identifying an X-Pro-D/L-Val motif. | Capped analogues; culture assays only. | Evidence grade D |
| Bonfiglio 2006 Exp Eye Res Tissue-repair models | Animal Rabbit corneal epithelial abrasion; rabbit corneal epithelial cells | Measured corneal re-epithelialisation; 8 of 8 KPV-treated corneas were re-epithelialised at 60 h vs none of the controls, and an NOS inhibitor blocked the effect. | Small animal sample; single tissue model. | Evidence grade C |
| Elliott 2004 J Invest Dermatol Skin and keratinocyte models | In vitro Human HaCaT and normal human keratinocytes | Measured cAMP and intracellular calcium; no cAMP rise was detected, while rapid calcium responses occurred only when the cAMP pathway was inhibited. | Signalling readouts only; no inflammatory endpoint. | Evidence grade D |
| Getting 2003 J Pharmacol Exp Ther Systemic inflammation and fever models | Animal Mouse (urate crystal and IL-1 beta peritonitis; MC1R e/e mice) plus macrophages in vitro | Measured neutrophil accumulation in peritonitis models; KPV reduced it, the MC3/4 antagonist SHU9119 did not block it, KPV did not raise cAMP, and the effect persisted in MC1R-deficient mice. | Peritonitis models; mechanism inferred by exclusion. | Evidence grade C |
| Muceniece 2003 Peptides Systemic inflammation and fever models | In vitro RAW 264.7 macrophages; B16-F1 cells; MCR-expressing insect cells | Measured melanocortin-receptor binding, cAMP and nitric oxide; the tripeptides did not bind MCRs or raise cAMP but dose-dependently inhibited stimulated NO production. | Cell assays; includes non-native cyclic analogues. | Evidence grade D |
| Mandrika 2001 Biochem Pharmacol Systemic inflammation and fever models | In vitro RAW 264.7 macrophages (LPS/IFN-gamma) | Measured nitric oxide output and NF-kappaB nuclear translocation; the tripeptide inhibited both, and the study examined MC1 receptor binding, which FDA later cited as evidence KPV does not displace alpha-MSH. | Single murine cell line. | Evidence grade D |
| Haddad 2001 Biochem J Airway epithelium | In vitro Fetal alveolar type II epithelial cells (LPS) | Measured nuclear localisation of NF-kappaB subunits p50, p65 and c-Rel; the D-proline analogue suppressed it dose-dependently. | D-proline analogue, not native KPV; fetal cell model. | Evidence grade D |
| Cutuli 2000 J Leukoc Biol Antimicrobial assays | In vitro Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans cultures | Measured colony formation of S. aureus and viability/germ-tube formation of C. albicans; alpha-MSH peptides including KPV reduced both across a broad concentration range. | Culture assays; later work (PMID 29953505) found no activity for Ac-KPV-NH2 under its conditions. | Evidence grade D |
| Haycock 2000 J Biol Chem Skin and keratinocyte models | In vitro Human HaCaT keratinocytes and HBL melanoma cells | Measured glutathione peroxidase activity and intracellular peroxide; MSH 11-13 inhibited the stimulated activity at 10-100-fold higher concentrations than alpha-MSH. | Cell lines; biphasic dose-response. | Evidence grade D |
| Barcellini 2000 J Leukoc Biol Systemic inflammation and fever models | In vitro Human promonocytic U1 cells; monocyte-derived macrophages | Measured HIV-1 p24 release and NF-kappaB activation in infected cells; KPV reduced viral expression and NF-kappaB activation. | Cell culture only. | Evidence grade D |
| Galimberti 1999 Biochem Biophys Res Commun Neuroinflammation models | In vitro Murine microglia (beta-amyloid + IFN-gamma) | Measured nitrite, TNF-alpha and iNOS/TNF-alpha mRNA in stimulated microglia; both alpha-MSH and the tripeptide reduced them. | Cell line only. | Evidence grade D |
| Delgado 1998 J Leukoc Biol Neuroinflammation models | In vitro Murine microglial cell line N9 (LPS + IFN-gamma) | Measured TNF-alpha, IL-6 and nitric oxide output from stimulated microglia; melanocortin peptides including the tripeptide reduced them concentration-dependently. | Single immortalised cell line. | Evidence grade D |
| Catania 1998 Peptides Systemic inflammation and fever models | Ex vivo Whole blood from people with HIV, stimulated with LPS | Measured IL-1 and TNF-alpha production in donated blood samples; melanocortins including the tripeptide reduced both concentration-dependently. | Ex vivo blood samples; no peptide was given to any person. | Evidence grade D |
| Hiltz 1992 Cytokine Systemic inflammation and fever models | Animal Mouse (cytokine-induced ear and paw inflammation) | Measured inflammation induced by IL-1 beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha, LTB4, PAF and IL-8; the analogue inhibited the cytokine-driven responses but not LTB4, PAF or IL-8. | D-valine analogue, not native KPV. | Evidence grade C |
| Uehara 1992 Eur J Pharmacol Systemic inflammation and fever models | Animal Rodent IL-1-induced anorexia model, intracerebroventricular (species not given in abstract) | Measured food intake after central IL-1; the tripeptide blocked IL-1-induced anorexia at the higher of two doses only. | Central administration; two doses only. | Evidence grade C |
| Hiltz 1991 Peptides Skin and keratinocyte models | Animal Mouse (picryl chloride ear swelling) | Compared stereochemical analogues; L-Pro12 was required for activity and D-Val13 substitution increased activity about four-fold over the parent tripeptide. | Analogues, not native KPV; bell-shaped dose-response complicates interpretation. | Evidence grade C |
| Hiltz 1990 Peptides Skin and keratinocyte models · Systemic inflammation and fever models | Animal Mouse (paw edema; contact sensitivity) | Measured paw edema and contact-sensitivity responses in mice; MSH peptides including the tripeptide reduced both. | Abstract does not separate tripeptide results from the full hormone in detail. | Evidence grade C |
| Hiltz 1989 FASEB J Skin and keratinocyte models · Systemic inflammation and fever models | Animal Mouse (picryl chloride ear swelling) | Measured irritant-induced ear swelling in mice; the tripeptide reduced swelling in a dose-related fashion. | Single irritant model; sample size not in abstract. | Evidence grade C |
| Deeter 1988 Peptides Systemic inflammation and fever models | Animal Rabbit (IL-1 fever), intracerebroventricular | Compared fever reduction by alpha-MSH fragments (11-13, 10-13, 8-13); all reduced fever dose-dependently and none matched alpha-MSH(1-13). | Acetylated, amidated analogue rather than native KPV; central administration only. | Evidence grade C |
| Richards 1984 Peptides Systemic inflammation and fever models | Animal Rabbit (leukocytic-pyrogen fever) | Measured body-temperature response to pyrogen in rabbits given the tripeptide centrally or peripherally; the tripeptide reduced fever with lower potency than full-length alpha-MSH. | 1984 study; sample size not stated in the abstract; potency lower than the parent hormone. | Evidence grade C |
This database holds 45 records verified against PubMed, selected from a broader search of 140 PubMed results for KPV, Lys-Pro-Val and α-MSH(11-13). None is a human clinical study.
No clinical studies. The closest are experiments on donated blood samples and excised human skin, where nobody received KPV.