Livagen is a synthetic tetrapeptide (Lys-Glu-Asp-Ala) from the Khavinson “bioregulator” program at the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology, conceived as a liver-oriented short peptide1. Published evidence is limited and comes largely from a small group of Russian-team studies, primarily chromatin work in cultured lymphocytes and leukocytes from elderly donors12. These are ex-vivo cell-culture and in-vitro observations, not controlled human clinical trials, and there is little independent Western replication12. It is offered as a research chemical and is not an approved drug.
Sequence & identity
Lys-Glu-Asp-Ala · C₁₈H₃₁N₅O₉ · 461.47 g/mol
Structure corresponds to the free-acid tetrapeptide L-lysyl-L-α-glutamyl-L-α-aspartyl-L-alanine, PubChem CID 87919683, InChIKey IKVDKWACACMDLR-BJDJZHNGSA-N3.
Mechanisms studied
A defined molecular mechanism is not established. Within the Khavinson framework the peptide is proposed to influence chromatin structure and gene accessibility rather than act through a single receptor. In cultured lymphocytes from old donors, researchers reported that Livagen induced activation of ribosomal genes, decondensation of pericentromeric structural heterochromatin, and release of genes repressed by age-related chromatin condensation — described by the authors as de-heterochromatinization1. A later comparison of several short peptides in leukocytes from senile subjects reported similar reactivation of ribosomal genes and changes in heterochromatin2. These are model-system observations and should not be read as a proven mode of action in humans.
Dosing in the research literature
The figures below summarise regimens as reported in published research — they are not recommendations or directions for use.
| Source / model | Regimen reported | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Khavinson, Lezhava, Monaselidze et al. 2002 (cultured human lymphocytes) | Livagen added to lymphocyte cultures from elderly donors in vitro; an applied culture concentration is not specified in the abstract | Ex-vivo cell-culture study; cytogenetic/chromatin endpoints, not a human dosing recommendation. |
| Khavinson, Lezhava, Malinin 2004 (leukocytes from senile subjects) | Short peptides including Livagen tested in leukocyte cultures from subjects aged 75–88; specific concentration not stated in the abstract | Ex-vivo cell-culture study; ribosomal-gene activity and heterochromatin endpoints. |
Effects observed in research
As reported in studies, observed effects are confined to cultured cells: in lymphocytes from elderly donors, investigators described activation of ribosomal genes and decondensation of heterochromatin attributed to Livagen1, with comparable chromatin and ribosomal-gene changes reported when several short peptides were tested in leukocytes from senile subjects2. No controlled human outcome data are available to support liver, immune, or anti-aging effects in people12.
Strength of evidence
Evidence is graded C: the published record is small and dominated by ex-vivo cell-culture and in-vitro work from the originating Russian research groups12. The chromatin findings are in cultured human cells rather than from clinical trials, and independent Western replication is lacking. Chemical identity is well defined via PubChem3, but pharmacokinetic data, including a measured half-life, are not established in the peer-reviewed literature.
Reconstitution & storage
Reconstitute with bacteriostatic water for laboratory handling. Store lyophilised material frozen and reconstituted material refrigerated. Use Peptigo’s reconstitution calculator and storage cheat sheet for working figures.
References
- Khavinson VKh, Lezhava TA, Monaselidze JG, Dzhokhadze TA, Dvalishvili NA, Bablishvili NK, Ryadnova IYu. Effects of Livagen peptide on chromatin activation in lymphocytes from old people. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2002;134(4):389-392. PMID 12533768. doi:10.1023/A:1021924702103.
- Khavinson VKh, Lezhava TA, Malinin VV. Effects of short peptides on lymphocyte chromatin in senile subjects. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2004;137(1):78-81. PMID 15085253. doi:10.1023/B:BEBM.0000024393.40560.05.
- National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Summary for CID 87919683, H-Lys-Glu-Asp-Ala-OH (Livagen). InChIKey IKVDKWACACMDLR-BJDJZHNGSA-N. Accessed 2026.