Abstract
Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is a neuropeptide present in the lymphoid microenvironment with a multiplicity of actions. Two sources for VIP have been described in the immune system, the terminals present in central and peripheral lymphoid organs and the immune cells. Although VIP is synthesized by lymphocytes, there is no evidence demonstrating that VIP is released, and which stimuli are able to induce VIP production and secretion. In this study, we demonstrated for the first time, that agents that mediate important immune functions, such as proliferation and antigenic stimulation (Con A, LPS, and anti-TCR antibody), inflammation (LPS, TNFalpha, IL-6 and IL-1beta) or apoptosis (dexamethasone) induce the production and release of VIP to the lymphoid microenvironment. We conclude that VIP is produced and secreted by lymphocytes and propose that during an immune response, the timely release of VIP within the lymphoid organs and peritoneum should influence the differentiation and/or downregulation of the ongoing response.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Carcinogens / pharmacology
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Cell Division / drug effects
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Cell Division / immunology
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Cells, Cultured
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Colforsin / pharmacology
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Dexamethasone / pharmacology
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Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
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Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / standards
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Feedback / physiology
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Flow Cytometry
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Glucocorticoids / pharmacology
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Granulocytes / cytology
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Granulocytes / metabolism*
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Interleukin-1 / pharmacology
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Interleukin-2 / pharmacology
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Interleukin-6 / pharmacology
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Isoquinolines / pharmacology
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Lymph Nodes / cytology
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Lymph Nodes / immunology
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Macrophages, Peritoneal / cytology
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Macrophages, Peritoneal / metabolism*
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Male
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Mast Cells / cytology
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Mast Cells / metabolism
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Mitogens / pharmacology
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Neuroimmunomodulation / immunology*
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Peritoneum / cytology
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Peritoneum / immunology
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Rats
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Rats, Wistar
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Retinaldehyde / pharmacology
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Sensitivity and Specificity
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Spleen / cytology
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Spleen / immunology
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Sulfonamides*
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Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / pharmacology
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Thymus Gland / cytology
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Thymus Gland / immunology
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Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / pharmacology
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Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / biosynthesis*
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Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / metabolism*
Substances
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Carcinogens
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Enzyme Inhibitors
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Glucocorticoids
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Interleukin-1
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Interleukin-2
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Interleukin-6
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Isoquinolines
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Mitogens
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Sulfonamides
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Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
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Colforsin
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Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide
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Dexamethasone
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N-(2-(4-bromocinnamylamino)ethyl)-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide
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Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate
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Retinaldehyde