Peptide Therapy: KPV: The Anti-Inflammation & Pro-Healing Peptide

kpv

Next in our Peptide Series, we take a look at a new peptide: KPV. Like other peptides, it can provide a novel remedy to health issues. KPV is especially good for fighting inflammation, healing wounds and resolving gut issues. Please read on for the details!

** Please note: If you want the short summary version of this article with a video, then please click here **

We have recently written many blogs about peptides. To recap, a peptide is a small protein, made up of a chain of amino acids. They can be used therapeutically to help with different health conditions. Click on the links to see our articles on peptide therapy, HGH, CJC 1295/Ipamorelin, BPC 157, PT 141, Ta1, VIP and Thymosin Beta 4.

What Is KPV?

KPV is a peptide that is naturally produced in the body. This particular peptide is naturally found in our body in form known as hormone alpha-MSH. It is used for inflammation, gut health and conditions such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and colon cancer.

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What are the Uses,  Benefits & Applications of KPV?

  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Anti-microbial
  • Used in healing wounds & injuries
  • Helps with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD) and colitis
  • Some benefits with cancer

Anti-Inflammatory

KPV is an anti-inflammatory peptide that has potential to treat a wide range of inflammatory diseases (Land, 2012).

How Does KPV Work as an Anti-inflammatory Peptide?

KPV exerts its anti-inflammatory function inside cells, where it inactivates inflammatory pathways (Xiao B, 2017). KPV enters the cell and interacts directly with inflammatory signalling molecules inside the cell (Land, 2012). It enters the nucleus of the cell and, once there, can inhibit the interaction of inflammatory substances and molecules (Land, 2012).

It suppresses inflammatory signaling in a type of lung cell known as the bronchial epithelial cell (Land, 2012). KPV causes a dose-dependent inhibition of NFκB, IL8 and other inflammatory molecules (Land, 2012). KPV can target airway inflammation in lung disease (Land, 2012). It also suppresses both local and systemic immune responses which commonly cause airway damage and remodelling in inflammatory lung disease (Land, 2012).

Anti-Microbial

In addition to its anti‐inflammatory effect, KPV also has antimicrobial effects against pathogens (Luger TA, 2007). Its antimicrobial effects were demonstrated on two major pathogens called S. aureus and C. albicans (Böhm M, 2019). S. aureus is a bacterium frequently found in the upper respiratory tract and on the skin. Usually, it does not cause any harm but sometimes S. aureus can cause infections. C. albicans is an opportunistic pathogenic yeast. In one study, KPV significantly inhibited S. aureus from forming colonies (Böhm M, 2019). 

Wound Healing

Research in wound healing shows KPV can speed wound healing, reduce infection, fight inflammation, and lead to better cosmetic results (Böhm M, 2019). Often with wounds, various microbes enter the wound. This must be controlled by the innate immune system to avoid infection (Böhm M, 2019). Skin is well equipped to do this with a number of antimicrobial peptides (Böhm M, 2019). KPV, with its anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties, can be very helpful for combatting these microbes and healing wounds (Böhm M, 2019).

Gut Issues: Ulcerative Colitis & Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBDs)

A lot of research on KPV is in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease and it might be a new and helpful therapy for IBD (Dalmasso G, 2008). 

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is chronic inflammation of all or part of the digestive tract. The two most common types of IBD are Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis. They manifest as chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and this inflammation results in damage to the GI tract.

Colitis is inflammation of the lining of the colon, caused by infection, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and other issues.

KPV significantly decreased inflammation in colitis (Dalmasso G, 2008). It decreases the inflammatory response by inhibiting proinflammatory cytokine (molecule) synthesis and secretion (Dalmasso G, 2008). KPV can stop the proinflammatory mechanisms in both intestinal epithelial cells and immune cells (Dalmasso G, 2008). It can interact directly with immune cells which can reduce inflammation (Dalmasso G, 2008). KPV may help in the case of IBDs through inhibited immune responses (Dalmasso G, 2008).

Taken orally, KPV reduces the incidence of colitis, as shown by a decrease in proinflammatory cytokines (Dalmasso G, 2008). In the case of colitis, KPV reduced weight loss, colonic activity and decreased inflammation and proinflammatory cytokine levels (Dalmasso G, 2008). KPV calms the response of colonic epithelial and immune cells and reduces the incidence of colitis in vivo (Xiao B, 2016).

KPV also supports healing of the mucosal lining of the gut (Xiao B, 2016). This helps with the condition Ulcerative Colitis (Xiao B, 2016). In one study KPV was given to mice with Ulcerative Colitis, in combination with other therapeutic substances (Wu Y, 2019). These mice experienced significant improvements in body weight, colon length and disease symptoms (Wu Y, 2019).

Cancer

KPV treatment is able to decrease tumorigenesis (Viennois E, 2016). Tumorigenesis, or carcinogenesis, is the formation of cancer, where normal cells are transformed into cancer cells. KPV was sufficient to decrease the inflammation of carcinogenesis (Viennois E, 2016). Using KPV before the development of colon cancer might be a preventive way to stop colonic carcinogenesis before it begins (Viennois E, 2016). The precise mechanism by which KPV decreases tumorigenesis is not yet fully understood (Viennois E, 2016).

Method of Delivery for KPV

Iontophoresis is method of taking medications. KPV is often taken via this method. It uses low-level current to drive charged compounds across the skin barrier (Ita, 2016). Iontophoresis is very useful because it increases the absorption of drugs and is a way of driving KPV, or another drug, deeper into the skin (Rawat S, 2008).

The benefits of using transdermal drug delivery, via the skin, include improved systemic bioavailability because it bypasses the first metabolism in the gut (Rawat S, 2008). Variables in taking drugs orally include pH, the presence of food or enzymes and transit times (Rawat S, 2008). These can all be eliminated with iontophoresis.

Side Effects

KPV is a naturally derived peptide without any notable side effects (Xiao B, 2017). KPV has been shown in animal studies to be safe and effective when administered orally, intravenously, subcutaneously and transdermally (Xiao B, 2017).

There is always the chance of potential interactions with other medications a person may be taking. It is very important to work with an experienced Functional Medicine practitioner when taking KPV or any other peptides. Our clinic has extensive experience with peptides and can help you with KPV or other peptides.

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  • Do you feel that you have tried many things and either nothing works, or the treatment does not hold?
  • Have you been told that there is nothing that can be done to reverse your illness and you just need to manage symptoms?
  • Does your illness impact your work, your family, your happiness and your social life?

We specialize in finding answers and solutions for complicated chronic illness when people feel like they have tried everything. If this sounds like you, book a free call with us to see if we are the right fit for your health goals. 

Dr. Miles has spoken for the following organizations:

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