Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide Modulation in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Summary
Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is a 28-amino acid neuropeptide with potent immunomodulatory, vasodilatory and secretomotor properties. In the context of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which encompasses ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, VIP contributes to the maintenance of epithelial barrier integrity, regulates mucosal immune responses and influences gut microbial composition. Dysregulation of VIP synthesis or signalling has been linked to barrier dysfunction, heightened inflammatory cytokine release and microbial dysbiosis, all of which exacerbate mucosal injury. Therapeutic strategies aimed at restoring VIP levels or enhancing its receptor-mediated pathways have shown promise in preclinical colitis models, highlighting VIP modulation as a novel avenue for IBD treatment.
Research from Nature Portfolio
Recent work employing a dextran sulphate sodium model of ulcerative colitis has illuminated the regulatory interplay between a specific microRNA and VIP gene expression. Mice lacking miR-30c exhibited more severe colitis, including greater weight loss, higher disease activity indices and pronounced histological damage compared with wild-type controls. Mechanistic studies revealed that miR-30c directly targets the VIP transcript, with reduced VIP levels in knockout animals correlating with impaired mucosal protection and amplified inflammatory signalling. Restoration of VIP expression in this setting attenuated disease severity, underscoring the therapeutic potential of modulating miR-30c–VIP interactions in ulcerative colitis.
Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide Modulation in Inflammatory Bowel Disease publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in vasoactive intestinal peptide modulation in inflammatory bowel disease across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP): A neuropeptide produced by enteric neurons and immune cells that modulates vasodilatation, epithelial secretion and immune responses in the gut.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): A group of chronic inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, primarily ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, characterised by mucosal damage and dysregulated immune activity.
MicroRNA (miR): Small non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally by binding to complementary sequences in target mRNAs.
Epithelial barrier integrity: The state of the intestinal lining that prevents translocation of luminal antigens and microbes, maintained by tight junctions and mucosal repair mechanisms.
Gut microbiota dysbiosis: An imbalance in the composition or function of intestinal microbial communities, often associated with inflammatory and metabolic disorders.
VPAC1 receptor: One of two G protein-coupled receptors for VIP, mediating its effects on epithelial cells, immune modulation and microbial interactions in the gut.
References
- miR-30c affects the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis by regulating target gene VIP. Scientific Reports (2024).
- Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide Promotes Intestinal Barrier Homeostasis and Protection Against Colitis in Mice. PLOS ONE (2015).
- Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide Deficiency Is Associated With Altered Gut Microbiota Communities in Male and Female C57BL/6 Mice. Frontiers in Microbiology (2019).
- The G Protein-Coupled Receptor, VPAC1, Mediates Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide-Dependent Functional Homeostasis of the Gut Microbiota. Gastro Hep Advances (2022).
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