VIP

What is VIP?

Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP) is a 28-amino-acid neuropeptide widely expressed in the central and peripheral nervous systems and in many endocrine and immune cells. It is a member of the secretin/glucagon peptide family and acts via two GPCRs: VPAC1 and VPAC2. VIP is studied as both a basic neuroscience tool and a research probe for receptor pharmacology.

Mechanism of action (preclinical evidence)

VIP binds VPAC1 and VPAC2 with high affinity, activating Gαs-coupled adenylyl cyclase and cAMP-dependent signaling. Downstream effects include smooth muscle relaxation (vasodilation, bronchodilation), modulation of intestinal motility and water/electrolyte secretion, neuroprotection in CNS injury models, and anti-inflammatory effects via shifts in T-cell and macrophage cytokine profiles.

Research applications

• VPAC1/VPAC2 receptor binding and selectivity studies
• Smooth muscle relaxation models (vascular and bronchial)
• Intestinal secretion and motility research
• Neuroprotection in stroke and traumatic brain injury models
• Immune modulation and Th1/Th2 polarization studies

Storage and handling

Store lyophilised VIP at -20 °C in sealed, light-protected vials. Reconstituted solutions are relatively unstable; single-use aliquots and protein-low-binding tubes are recommended for cell-based assays.

Regulatory status

VIP is a naturally occurring peptide. The synthetic form supplied by Peptra Labs is for laboratory research only and is not approved as a therapeutic agent in any major regulatory framework.