The Role of Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide and Other Neuropeptides in the Regulation of the Immune Response in Vitro and in Vivo

In this report the authors review observations concerning the effects of VIP on immune responses and compare them to those of other neuropeptides. They have been particularly interested in substance P (SP) and somatostatin (SOM) since these substances, similar to VIP, are found in high concentrations in mucosal tissues where they are thought to act primarily as neurotransmitters, although there is increasing evidence that they act as local immunomodulators.