Melanocortin-derived tripeptide KPV has anti-inflammatory potential in murine models of inflammatory bowel disease
Kannengiesser K, Maaser C, Heidemann J, et al. (2008). Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.
Summary
Tested KPV in two established mouse models of inflammatory bowel disease. In DSS colitis, treated mice recovered earlier and regained more body weight than controls, with less inflammatory infiltrate on histology and lower myeloperoxidase activity in colonic tissue; in transfer colitis the pattern was similar. In mice whose melanocortin-1 receptor does not function, KPV treatment still prevented deaths during DSS colitis, which the authors read as evidence that at least part of the effect does not depend on that receptor. An animal study; the authors describe KPV as an interesting therapeutic option to investigate, not an established one.