[Vasoactive intestinal peptide: a novel neurotrophic factor].
Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is a 28-amino acid neuropeptide with potent growth-related actions on dissociated neural cells. In recent years its role in brain development has been elucidated: VIP has been shown to be a regulator of early neurodevelopment and embryonic growth, a stimulator of neocortical astrocytogenesis and a neuroprotective molecule against excitotoxic and other neurotoxic substances. Thus VIP appears as a fundamental regulator of brain growth and development, and a potent neuroprotective agent, possibly involved in pathological processes such as microcephalies and some neurological impairments observed in very premature babies. Similarly, VIP and VIP derivatives could represent a new avenue in the search of therapeutics for excitotoxic lesions of the developing brain.
Service de neurologie pédiatrique et Inserm CRI 97-01, Hôpital Robert-Debré, Paris, France.
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Gressens
D001921:Brain / Q000196:embryology* / Q000254:growth & development*; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D018005:Receptors, Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000502:physiology; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000502:physiology*
D018005:Receptors, Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide
Le peptide vasoactif intestinal: un nouveau facteur neurotrophique.