KLOW MD

References · 23 citations

The literature this monograph rests on.

Every quantitative claim on this site traces to a specific paper below. Citations span the four KLOW components from foundational 1990s biochemistry to 2025 systematic reviews.

How to use this page

Each citation below is numbered to match the inline [N] markers used across /index, /research, /dosage, and /faq. Hover any inline marker on those pages to see an abbreviated version of the same citation. The table on this page is sortable by year, journal, and component peptide and is searchable by author surname.

All outbound links go to the publishing journal, PubMed, or PubMed Central. We do not link to vendor pages, supplement marketing sites, or any commercial source.

Full citation list

The 23 references span four chemically distinct peptides and three decades of work. The earliest is the 1992 Cassimeris biochemistry establishing the 1:1 Tβ4-actin stoichiometry [15]; the most recent are 2025 systematic and narrative reviews covering BPC-157 in orthopaedic sports medicine, GHK-Cu in colitis, and KPV in IBD [9][20][21][22][23].

Use the filter controls above the table to narrow citations to a single KLOW component or to a specific publication year.

  1. Dalmasso G, Charrier-Hisamuddin L, Nguyen HTT, Yan Y, Sitaraman S, Merlin D. PepT1-mediated tripeptide KPV uptake reduces intestinal inflammation. Gastroenterology. 2008;134(1):166-178. ↗
  2. Kannengiesser K, Maaser C, Heidemann J, Luegering A, Ross M, Brzoska T, Bohm M, Luger TA, Domschke W, Kucharzik T. Melanocortin-derived tripeptide KPV has anti-inflammatory potential in murine models of inflammatory bowel disease. Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. 2008;14(3):324-331. ↗
  3. Land SC. Inhibition of cellular and systemic inflammation cues in human bronchial epithelial cells by melanocortin-related peptides: mechanism of KPV action and a role for MC3R agonists. International Journal of Physiology, Pathophysiology and Pharmacology. 2012;4(2):59-73. ↗
  4. Schaible E-V, Steinsträßer A, Jahn-Eimermacher A, Luh C, Sebastiani A, Kornes F, Pieter D, Schäfer MK, Engelhard K, Thal SC. Single Administration of Tripeptide α-MSH(11-13) Attenuates Brain Damage by Reduced Inflammation and Apoptosis after Experimental Traumatic Brain Injury in Mice. PLOS ONE. 2013;8(8):e71056. ↗
  5. PepT1-targeted nanodrug based on co-assembly of anti-inflammatory peptide and immunosuppressant for combined treatment of acute and chronic DSS-induced colitis. Frontiers in Pharmacology. 2024;15:1442876. ↗
  6. Lysine-Proline-Valine peptide mitigates fine dust-induced keratinocyte apoptosis and inflammation by regulating oxidative stress and modulating the MAPK/NF-κB pathway. Life Sciences. 2025;366:123528. ↗
  7. Pickart L, Margolina A. Regenerative and Protective Actions of the GHK-Cu Peptide in the Light of the New Gene Data. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2018;19(7):1987. ↗
  8. Campbell JD, McDonough JE, Zeskind JE, et al. A gene expression signature of emphysema-related lung destruction and its reversal by the tripeptide GHK. Genome Medicine. 2012;4(8):67. ↗
  9. Mao S, Huang J, Li J, et al. Exploring the beneficial effects of GHK-Cu on an experimental model of colitis and the underlying mechanisms. Frontiers in Pharmacology. 2025;16:1551843. ↗
  10. Chen H, Yang P, Xue P, et al. Food-Derived Tripeptide-Copper Self-Healing Hydrogel for Infected Wound Healing. Biomaterials Research. 2025;29:0139. ↗
  11. Leyden JJ, Stephens T, Finkey MB, et al. Use of a copper-binding peptide in skin cosmetics. American Academy of Dermatology meeting proceedings. 2002. (Reviewed in Pickart & Margolina 2018, IJMS 19(7):1987.) ↗
  12. Krivic A, Anic T, Seiwerth S, Huljev D, Sikiric P. Achilles detachment in rat and stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157: promoted tendon-to-bone healing and opposed corticosteroid aggravation. Journal of Orthopaedic Research. 2006;24(5):982-989. ↗
  13. Cerovecki T, Bojanic I, Brcic L, Radic B, Vukoja I, Seiwerth S, Sikiric P. Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 (PL 14736) improves ligament healing in the rat. Journal of Orthopaedic Research. 2010;28(9):1155-1161. ↗
  14. Novinscak T, Brcic L, Staresinic M, Jukic I, Radic B, Pevec D, et al. Gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 as an effective therapy for muscle crush injury in the rat. Surgery Today. 2008;38(8):716-725. ↗
  15. Cassimeris L, Safer D, Nachmias VT, Zigmond SH. Interaction of thymosin beta 4 with muscle and platelet actin: implications for actin sequestration in resting platelets. Biochemistry. 1992;31(20):4783-4787. ↗
  16. Malinda KM, Sidhu GS, Mani H, Banaudha K, Maheshwari RK, Goldstein AL, Kleinman HK. Thymosin β4 accelerates wound healing. Journal of Investigative Dermatology. 1999;113(3):364-368. ↗
  17. Sosne G, Szliter EA, Barrett R, Kernacki KA, Kleinman H, Hazlett LD. Thymosin beta 4 promotes corneal wound healing and decreases inflammation in vivo following alkali injury. Experimental Eye Research. 2002;74(2):293-299. ↗
  18. Bock-Marquette I, Saxena A, White MD, DiMaio JM, Srivastava D. Thymosin β4 activates integrin-linked kinase and promotes cardiac cell migration, survival and cardiac repair. Nature. 2004;432(7016):466-472. ↗
  19. Smart N, Risebro CA, Melville AAD, Moses K, Schwartz RJ, Chien KR, Riley PR. Thymosin β4 induces adult epicardial progenitor mobilization and neovascularization. Nature. 2007;445(7124):177-182. ↗
  20. Vasireddi N, Hahamyan H, Salata MJ, Karns M, Calcei JG, Voos JE, Apostolakos JM. Emerging Use of BPC-157 in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine: A Systematic Review. HSS Journal. 2025. ↗
  21. Regeneration or Risk? A Narrative Review of BPC-157 for Musculoskeletal Healing. Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine. 2025. ↗
  22. Adnan SB, et al. Exploring the Role of Tripeptides in Wound Healing and Skin Regeneration: A Comprehensive Review. International Journal of Medical Sciences. 2025;22:4175. ↗
  23. Ghazvini et al. Anti-Inflammatory Peptides as Promising Therapeutics Agent Against Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: A Systematic Review. JGH Open. 2025. ↗
  24. Mendias CL, Awan TM. Safety and Efficacy of Approved and Unapproved Peptide Therapies for Musculoskeletal Injuries and Athletic Performance. Sports Med. 2026. PMID: 41966639. ↗
  25. Ruff D, et al. A randomized, placebo-controlled, single and multiple dose study of intravenous thymosin β4 in healthy volunteers. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2010. PMID: 20536472. ↗
  26. Hsieh MJ, et al. Therapeutic potential of pro-angiogenic BPC157 is associated with VEGFR2 activation and up-regulation. J Mol Med (Berl). 2017;95:323-333. PMID: 27847966. ↗
  27. Wang Y, et al. Pharmacokinetics, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of body-protective compound 157, a potential drug for treating various wounds, in rats and dogs. Front Pharmacol. 2022;13:1026182. PMID: 36588717. ↗
  28. Pickart L, Vasquez-Soltero JM, Margolina A. GHK Peptide as a Natural Modulator of Multiple Cellular Pathways in Skin Regeneration. BioMed Research International. 2015;2015:648108. PMID: 26236730. ↗
  29. Hostynek JJ, Dreher F, Maibach HI. Human skin penetration of a copper tripeptide in vitro as a function of skin layer. Inflammation Research. 2011;60(1):79-86. PMID: 20721598. ↗
  30. Getting SJ, Christian HC, Lam CW, et al. Dissection of the anti-inflammatory effect of the core and C-terminal (KPV) alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone peptides. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2003;306(2):631-637. PMID: 12750433. ↗