Immune & Inflammatory Support

The immune / inflammatory shelf collects peptides characterised in NF-κB, cytokine, and mucosal-inflammation models. The most distinctive compound is KPV (lysine-proline-valine), the C-terminal tripeptide of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. KPV retains the anti-inflammatory pharmacology of the parent hormone — observed across NF-κB signalling, TNF-α / IL-6 cytokine modulation, and mucosal-inflammation assays — but without the melanocortin-receptor binding that drives MSH’s pigmentation effects. Its three-residue length lets it survive gastrointestinal peptidase activity better than larger anti-inflammatory peptides, making oral and topical research formulations feasible.

Published preclinical work on KPV centres on inflammatory bowel disease models, colitis induction studies (DSS and TNBS protocols), and macrophage / monocyte cytokine assays. The Brzoska and Luger group has been the primary source of the molecular pharmacology; the Kannengiesser and Sitaraman labs ran much of the mucosal-inflammation work in mouse colitis models.

Researchers selecting from this shelf generally do so on the basis of the specific inflammatory pathway under study and the tissue compartment of interest (mucosal, systemic, or topical). KPV’s small size and oral bioavailability set it apart from the larger immune-modulator peptides studied in parenteral protocols, which is why it features in formulations like the KLOW blend. For research use only; no compound here has an approved human or veterinary indication.