Lysine-proline-valine (KPV) is a C-terminal peptide fragment of α-melanocyte stimulating hormone. KPV is a small peptide with a short but action-packed molecular structure. The sequence of lysine, proline, and valine appears to endow it with specific physicochemical characteristics, such as stability and solubility, which might contribute to its functional role in certain organisms. The synthesis of KPV is believed to be achieved through conventional peptide synthesis methods, including solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS), which ensures the precise assembly of its amino acid sequence.
 
KPV is a potent anti inflammatory peptide that has shown promise in a number of disease conditions. The most active research is in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease where the peptide has showed substantial promise. KPV has been shown in animal studies to be safe and effective when administered orally, intravenously, subcutaneously and transdermal. Research in wound healing also reveals that KPV and other alpha MSH derivatives may offer a host of benefits that speed wound healing, reduce infection, fight inflammation, and lead to better cosmetic results. KPV and similar peptides could become mainstays not just in wound healing, but in scar reduction following surgery.

Perhaps the most important discovery to arise from KPV research is the finding that the peptide reduces intestinal inflammation. In mouse models of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), KPV shows robust results, reducing inflammatory infitrates, MPO activity, and overall histological evidence of inflammation. Mice treated with KPV in the study recovered faster and had more pronounced weight gain than mice treated with placebo.

Further research on delivery mechanisms for KPV has revealed that loading KPV onto nanoparticles functionalized with hyaluronic acid helps to direct the inflammatory effects of the peptide to proper locations within the intestine. This leads to accelerated mucosal healing and alleviation of inflammation via a strong down regulation of TNF-alpha in mouse models. In many ways, KPV is a more effective and more targeted means of reducing inflammation in IBD without affecting TNF-alpha in other locations in the body.

The benefit of modifying KPV is in improving the peptides oral bioavailability. This does not increase the efficacy of the peptide, but does have an impact on potency and thus total dose require to achieve an effect.