Vilon
A dipeptide (Lys-Glu) immune bioregulator and longevity peptide from the Khavinson series - one of the simplest yet most studied peptide bioregulators for immune function and lifespan.
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Compound Profile
Vilon
Key Data
Research reference only
Research Focus
Preclinical data
⚠ Research & Educational Use Only. Vilon is a research chemical documented here for scientific education. All information references peer-reviewed literature and preclinical/clinical study data. Not for human consumption. Not medical advice. Consult a licensed researcher or healthcare professional before any laboratory use.
- Immune modulation - enhances T-cell and NK cell activity while reducing autoimmune dysregulation
- One of the most extensively studied peptide bioregulators for longevity - reduces all-cause mortality in elderly cohorts
- Stimulates interleukin-2 production - a key immune activation cytokine
- Vilon is not FDA-approved for human use. It is a research chemical for scientific study only.
Research At a Glance
- Immune modulation - enhances T-cell and NK cell activity while reducing autoimmune dysregulation
- One of the most extensively studied peptide bioregulators for longevity - reduces all-cause mortality in elderly cohorts
- Stimulates interleukin-2 production - a key immune activation cytokine
- Reduces cortisol-induced immunosuppression in stress models
In Plain English
Simple summaryVilon is a synthetic dipeptide (Lys-Glu) developed by Vladimir Khavinson and colleagues at the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology as a thymic bioregulator -- one of the short organ-specific peptides in the Khavinson bioregulator series. The theory behind the bioregulator concept is that short peptides derived from tissue extracts of specific organs can be absorbed by cells of those organs, penetrate cell nuclei, and modulate gene expression in a tissue-specific way. Vilon, like Thymagen, targets thymic cell function. It has been studied for immune restoration in aging and was part of the Soviet-era research program that produced Thymalin (the whole thymus extract) before isolating the individual active peptide fractions.
- Immune modulation - enhances T-cell and NK cell activity while reducing autoimmune dysregulation
- One of the most extensively studied peptide bioregulators for longevity - reduces all-cause mortality in elderly cohorts
- Stimulates interleukin-2 production - a key immune activation cytokine
The full scientific detail, mechanisms, citations, and dosing data, follows below.
What is Vilon?
Tap any underlined term for an instant definition.
Vilon is a synthetic dipeptide (Lys-Glu, lysine-glutamic acid) and one of the first peptide bioregulators developed in the Khavinson research programme at the St. Petersburg Institute of Biogerontology. As a dipeptide, it is structurally among the simplest members of the bioregulator family - yet it has accumulated one of the most substantial research records of any compound in this series.
The simplicity of Vilon is both a scientific curiosity and a practical advantage. That a two-amino-acid dipeptide could produce measurable effects on immune function and longevity challenged assumptions about the minimum complexity required for biologically meaningful peptide signalling. The dipeptide's development emerged from studies isolating active peptides from thymic extract and immune tissue - with Khavinson's group demonstrating that small dipeptides and tripeptides could concentrate within cell nuclei and interact with gene regulatory regions.
Vilon's primary research focus has been immune function, particularly T-cell regulation and NK (natural killer) cell activity. Immunosenescence - the age-related decline of immune competence - is driven partly by thymic involution (loss of T-cell generation capacity) and partly by functional exhaustion of existing immune cells. Vilon has been studied for its ability to restore immunological parameters in aged experimental animals and elderly human subjects, including T-lymphocyte counts, IL-2 production, and NK cell cytotoxicity.
The longevity data for Vilon is perhaps the most compelling aspect of its research profile. Long-running Russian cohort studies of elderly subjects treated with bioregulator combinations (including Vilon and Epitalon) showed significant reductions in all-cause mortality over 8-15 year follow-up periods. These findings, while requiring replication in controlled Western-style clinical trials, have sustained substantial research interest in Vilon as a longevity peptide.
Vilon is frequently combined with Epitalon in longevity-focused research protocols. While Epitalon targets the neuroendocrine system (pineal gland, telomere maintenance), Vilon targets the immune system - together addressing two major systems associated with healthy ageing.
By the Numbers
Key Research Benefits
Documented effects observed in preclinical and clinical studies on Vilon. See all Immune System peptides for comparison.
Side Effects & Risks
Adverse effects reported in the research literature. All data sourced from preclinical and clinical study reports. View all peptides' side effects →
Dosing Data from the Literature
Doses referenced below are sourced from published preclinical and clinical studies. Use the peptide dose calculator to convert these values to injection volume.
Standard protocol: 1 mg subcutaneously or intramuscularly daily for 10 days, 2-3 courses per year.
Research dose: 0.5-1 mg SC or IM, daily for 10 days Courses: 2-3 per year Often combined with Epitalon for synergistic immune-neuroendocrine longevity protocols
Administration in Research Settings
Standard reconstitution and administration methodology for laboratory research use.
Reconstitute with physiological saline or bacteriostatic water. Administer subcutaneously or intramuscularly once daily for 10 consecutive days. The simple dipeptide structure allows some researchers to use sublingual delivery, though injection is most studied.
What the research doesn't show
All Khavinson bioregulator evidence comes from the Khavinson Institute's own publications, primarily in Russian journals. Independent replication by other research groups is absent. The gene-regulatory mechanism -- that a dipeptide can reach cell nuclei and modulate transcription -- is controversial and requires extraordinary evidence that hasn't been independently provided. Interpret all efficacy claims accordingly.
Medical Expert Videos
Physicians, researchers, and pharmacologists explain Vilon, covering mechanisms of action, clinical context, and study findings.
Videos sourced from YouTube search. KnowYourPeptide does not endorse any individual creator. For research education only.
The Bottom Line
Vilon has a growing body of preclinical evidence and a well-characterised safety profile in research settings. The most-studied application is: immune modulation - enhances t-cell and nk cell activity while reducing autoimmune dysregulation.
The most commonly reported side effect in research subjects is generally very well tolerated. It is a research chemical, not approved for human use.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Quick Reference
How It Compares
Thymagen (Lys-Glu, same sequence as Vilon in some formulations) is the defined single-peptide thymic bioregulator. Thymalin is the complex thymic extract from the same research program. Thymosin alpha-1 has the most international clinical recognition for thymic peptide therapy. The distinction between Vilon and Thymagen varies by source -- some literature treats them as the same dipeptide, others as variants.
Compare Vilon side-by-sideResearch Use Only
This information is for educational research purposes only. This is not medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional.