NOT MEDICAL ADVICE. No information on this site should be considered medical advice. Research peptides are not intended for human consumption — in-vitro lab use only. Consult a physician prior to introducing anything into the human body.
Peptide HubResearch Peptide Wiki
Support Us Join

Home/Cardiovascular & Circulatory/VIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide)

VIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide)

A 28-amino-acid neuropeptide with vasodilatory, inotropic, and broad anti-inflammatory actions across cardiovascular and immune systems.

Overview

VIP (vasoactive intestinal peptide) is a 28-amino-acid neuropeptide of the secretin/glucagon peptide family, widely distributed in the nervous system and gut. It was first identified as a vasodilatory gut peptide and is now recognized as a major anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory neuropeptide with actions on the cardiovascular, immune, and nervous systems.

Mechanism

VIP acts through two G-protein-coupled receptors, VPAC1 and VPAC2, which couple to adenylyl cyclase and elevate cAMP. Through these receptors VIP relaxes vascular smooth muscle, supports cardiac performance in some settings, and reprograms immune cells toward anti-inflammatory phenotypes, inhibiting the production of proinflammatory cytokines.

Dosing

In research settings VIP is given by intravenous infusion or local delivery in animal models. Its very short plasma half-life has driven the development of more stable analogs, and no approved therapeutic indication exists for native VIP.

  • Intravenous infusion is common in cardiovascular and immune research protocols
  • The short half-life limits systemic use of the native peptide
  • Stabilized analogs are the focus of pharmaceutical development

Expected Effects

  • Potent vasodilation and blood-pressure lowering in animal and human studies
  • Anti-inflammatory effects across multiple disease models, including sepsis, arthritis, and ischemia
  • Cardioprotective actions reported in models of ischemia-reperfusion injury
  • Modulation of immune-cell cytokine profiles in vitro and in vivo

Side Effects & Tolerability

Native VIP given by infusion is generally well tolerated, with transient flushing and hypotension the most common effects. Because of its broad receptor distribution, chronic systemic activation carries theoretical concerns that remain poorly characterized.

Storage

Lyophilized peptide should be stored cold and desiccated, protected from light and moisture. Reconstituted solutions are typically aliquoted and refrigerated or frozen, avoiding repeated freeze-thaw cycles.

Related peptides

Albumin-Binding Peptide AnalogsCategory of peptides described as engineered to bind serum albumin for a longer half-life; specific products are undefined in the literature.Angiopoietin Peptide AnalogsVendor umbrella for peptides marketed as angiopoietin analogs; individual sequences and functions are undocumented.Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (ANP) AnalogsMarketed peptides classed as analogs of atrial natriuretic peptide; sequences are undisclosed and no published characterization exists.Cardiogen (Khavinson Cardiac Bioregulator)Marketed short-peptide cardiac bioregulator in the Khavinson tradition; product identity and supporting studies could not be confirmed.Endothelin Receptor Peptide AnalogsCatalog name implying peptide modulators of endothelin receptors; not a recognized class, and products are undocumented.Heparin-Binding Peptide AnalogsGeneric catalog heading for peptides grouped by heparin-binding activity; no single defined product with published identity.