title: Vasoactive intestinal peptide inhibits IL-12 and nitric oxide production in murine macrophages.
abstract: Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is a naturally occurring neuropeptide widely distributed in the nervous system. In this study, we investigated the effect of VIP on IL-12, TNF alpha and nitric oxide (NO) production in macrophages following activation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or superantigens. In vitro studies show that at physiologic concentrations, VIP inhibited IL-12 and NO but not TNF alpha production in macrophages which were stimulated with LPS or superantigens. The inhibitory effect of VIP on IL-12 production appeared to be cAMP mediated since other cAMP inducing agents were also potent in inhibiting IL-12 production. Since IL-12 plays a critical role in T cell function, we suggest that naturally occurring neural hormones can regulate the type and direction of the immune response.
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xin
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sriram
mesh_terms: D015124:8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D005576:Colforsin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide; D018089:Superantigens / Q000494:pharmacology; D013864:Thioglycolates / Q000494:pharmacology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: C495402:Adcyap1 protein, mouse; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008934:Mitogens; D009479:Neuropeptides; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide; D018089:Superantigens; D013864:Thioglycolates; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D018664:Interleukin-12; D005576:Colforsin; D015124:8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D000242:Cyclic AMP