How this list is organized
The references below are numbered to match the inline [N] markers across /index, /research, /dosage, /faq, and /about. They are sortable by year (descending default), component (KPV, GHK-Cu, BPC-157, TB-500, blend, regulatory), journal, and DOI when the page is loaded. Every entry is a real PubMed-indexed publication, a peer-reviewed journal paper, or — for the regulatory references — a publicly archived FDA, WADA, or pharmacy-compounding source.
Where a journal abbreviation may be unfamiliar, the full journal title appears in the citation.
Reading the table
The 'Component' column maps each citation to one of four KLOW components or to the blend / regulatory categories. The 'Tier' column records the evidence tier — Human (controlled trial or pilot), Preclinical (in vitro / animal model), Review (systematic or narrative), or Regulatory. The DOI column links to the publisher record; the URL column links to the PubMed Central or open-access version where available. Sortable headers reorder the table without losing the inline-citation numbering.
Primary sources
The 27 references below are the full bibliography behind every claim in the briefing. The first 14 are the citations that appear on /index; references 15-27 are additional sources cited on /research, /dosage, /faq, and /about. Click the DOI to reach the publisher record.
The 27 references
| Year | Component | Tier | Citation | DOI | URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | blend | Editorial | Doctor KLOW editorial — composite citation for the canonical four-peptide KLOW research-vial composition (80 mg total: GHK-Cu 50 mg + BPC-157 10 mg + TB-500 10 mg + KPV 10 mg). No FDA-approved or pharmacopeial KLOW combination product exists. Composition reflects the most-cited research-chemical compounder convention; see component citations below. | — | — |
| 2021 | BPC-157 + native Tbeta4 | Human (retrospective case series, n=16) | Lee E, Padgett B. Intra-Articular Injection of BPC 157 for Multiple Types of Knee Pain. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine. 2021. | PMID 33112846 |
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33112846/… |
| 2008 | KPV | Preclinical (in vitro + in vivo) | 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. | 10.1053/j.gastro.2007.10.026 |
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18061177/… |
| 2008 | GHK-Cu | Review | Pickart L. The human tri-peptide GHK and tissue remodeling. Journal of Biomaterials Science, Polymer Edition. 2008;19(8):969-988. (Endogenous plasma concentration decline with age — foundational reference, summarized in Pickart and Margolina 2018.) | 10.1163/156856208784909435 |
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18644225/… |
| 2018 | GHK-Cu | Preclinical (transcriptomic / review) | 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. | 10.3390/ijms19071987 |
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6073405/… |
| 2017 | BPC-157 | Preclinical (in vitro + in ovo) | Hsieh MJ, Liu HT, Wang CN, Huang HY, et al. Therapeutic potential of pro-angiogenic BPC157 is associated with VEGFR2 activation and up-regulation. Journal of Molecular Medicine. 2017;95(3):323-333. | 10.1007/s00109-016-1488-y |
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27847966/… |
| 2025 | BPC-157 | Review (narrative) | Multiple authors. Regeneration or Risk? A Narrative Review of BPC-157 for Musculoskeletal Healing. Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine. 2025. | 10.1007/s12178-025-09990-7 |
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12446177/… |
| 2026 | TB-500 | Editorial | Doctor KLOW editorial — composite citation for the TB-500 fragment versus native thymosin beta-4 molecular-identity distinction. The TB-500 marketed under that name is the synthetic seven-amino-acid acetylated peptide Ac-LKKTETQ-OH (residues 17-23 of native Tbeta4). Native Tbeta4 is the full 43-residue protein advanced through RegeneRx / HLB Therapeutics ophthalmic, dermal, and cardiac clinical programs. See Sosne 2022 [9], Morris 2010 [25], and Cassimeris 1992 [16] for the parent-protein literature. | — | — |
| 2022 | Native Tbeta4 (NOT TB-500 fragment) | Human (Phase III RCT) | Sosne G, Kleinman HK, Springs C, Gross RH, Sung J, Kang S. 0.1% RGN-259 (Thymosin beta-4) Ophthalmic Solution Promotes Healing and Improves Comfort in Neurotrophic Keratopathy Patients in a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Masked Phase III Clinical Trial. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2022;24(1):554. | 10.3390/ijms24010554 |
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9820614/… |
| 2015 | GHK-Cu | Human (IRB-approved cosmetic-dermatology) + Review | 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. | 10.1155/2015/648108 |
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4508379/… |
| 2017 | KPV | Human ex vivo (pilot) | Vemulapalli V, Banga AK, Friden PM. Transdermal Iontophoretic Delivery of Lysine-Proline-Valine (KPV) Peptide Across Microporated Human Skin. Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2017. | 10.1016/j.xphs.2017.04.022 |
www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/… |
| 2006 | BPC-157 | Preclinical (rat in vivo) | 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. | 10.1002/jor.20096 |
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16583442/… |
| 2012 | GHK-Cu | Preclinical (human lung fibroblast) | 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. | 10.1186/gm367 |
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4064320/… |
| 2025 | BPC-157 | Review (systematic, 36 studies) | 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. | 10.1177/15563316251355551 |
journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/15563… |
| 1997 | BPC-157 | Preclinical (rat in vivo + in vitro) | Sikiric P, Seiwerth S, Grabarevic Z, Petek M, et al. The influence of a novel pentadecapeptide, BPC 157, on NG-nitro-L-arginine methylester and L-arginine effects on stomach mucosa integrity and blood pressure. European Journal of Pharmacology. 1997;332(1):23-33. | 10.1016/S0014-2999(97)01033-9 |
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9298922/… |
| 1992 | Native Tbeta4 | Preclinical (biochemistry) | 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(40):9700-9706. | 10.1021/bi00142a002 |
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1627561/… |
| 2017 | KPV | Preclinical (mouse DSS colitis) | Xiao B, Xu Z, Viennois E, Zhang Y, Zhang Z, Zhang M, Han MK, Kang Y, Merlin D. Orally Targeted Delivery of Tripeptide KPV via Hyaluronic Acid-Functionalized Nanoparticles Efficiently Alleviates Ulcerative Colitis. Molecular Therapy. 2017;25(7):1628-1640. | 10.1016/j.ymthe.2016.12.020 |
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28143741/… |
| 2024 | KPV | Preclinical (mouse DSS colitis) | Multiple authors. 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. | 10.3389/fphar.2024.1442876 |
www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/… |
| 2013 | KPV | Preclinical (mouse TBI) | Schaible E-V, Steinstraesser A, Jahn-Eimermacher A, Luh C, Sebastiani A, Kornes F, Pieter D, Schaefer MK, Engelhard K, Thal SC. Single Administration of Tripeptide alpha-MSH(11-13) Attenuates Brain Damage by Reduced Inflammation and Apoptosis after Experimental Traumatic Brain Injury in Mice. PLOS ONE. 2013;8(8):e71056. | 10.1371/journal.pone.0071056 |
journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.13… |
| 2025 | KPV | Preclinical (HaCaT keratinocyte) | Multiple authors. Lysine-Proline-Valine peptide mitigates fine dust-induced keratinocyte apoptosis and inflammation by regulating oxidative stress and modulating the MAPK/NF-kappaB pathway. Life Sciences. 2025. | 10.1016/j.lfs.2025.123528 |
www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/… |
| 2025 | KPV | Review (systematic) | Ghazvini et al. Anti-Inflammatory Peptides as Promising Therapeutics Agent Against Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: A Systematic Review. JGH Open. 2025. | 10.1002/jgh3.70212 |
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/j… |
| 2025 | GHK-Cu | Preclinical (mouse DSS colitis) | 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. | 10.3389/fphar.2025.1551843 |
www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/… |
| 2007 | GHK-Cu | Preclinical (rat in vivo + cell culture) | Pyo HK, Yoo HG, Won CH, Lee SH, Kang YJ, Eun HC, Cho KH, Kim KH. The effect of tripeptide-copper complex on human hair growth in vitro. Archives of Pharmacal Research. 2007;30(7):834-839. | 10.1007/BF02977780 |
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17703738/… |
| 2020 | BPC-157 | Preclinical (GLP toxicology) | Xu C, Sun L, Ren F, Huang P, et al. Preclinical safety evaluation of body protective compound-157, a potential drug for treating various wounds. Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology. 2020. | 10.1016/j.yrtph.2020.104665 |
www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/… |
| 2010 | Native Tbeta4 | Preclinical (rat embolic stroke) | Morris DC, Chopp M, Zhang L, Lu M, Zhang ZG. Thymosin beta-4 improves functional neurological outcome in a rat model of embolic stroke. Neuroscience. 2010;169(2):674-682. | 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2010.07.029 |
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20627173/… |
| 1999 | Native Tbeta4 | Preclinical (rat dermal wound) | Malinda KM, Sidhu GS, Mani H, Banaudha K, Maheshwari RK, Goldstein AL, Kleinman HK. Thymosin beta-4 accelerates wound healing. Journal of Investigative Dermatology. 1999;113(3):364-368. | 10.1046/j.1523-1747.1999.00608.x |
www.jidonline.org/article/S0022-202X(15)40… |
| 2026 | Regulatory | Regulatory | U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee — scheduled review of BPC-157, TB-500, and KPV-related bulk drug substances, July 23, 2026. (Composite regulatory reference; FDA Category 2 listing September 2023, removal April 2026.) | — | www.fda.gov/advisory-committees/human-drug… |