Vasoactive intestinal peptide prevents experimental arthritis by downregulating both autoimmune and inflammatory components of the disease

• Published in: Nature medicine Vol. 7; no. 5; pp. 563 - 568
• Main Authors: Delgado, Mario, Abad, Catalina, Martinez, Carmen, Leceta, Javier, Gomariz, Rosa P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Nature Publishing Group 01-05-2001
• Subjects: Animals; Antigens; Arthritis; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - metabolism; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - prevention & control; Autoimmune diseases; Cartilage; Cytokines; Down-Regulation - drug effects; Drug dosages; Etiology; Inflammation; Inflammation - immunology; Inflammation Mediators - metabolism; Male; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 - genetics; Medical research; Mice; Mice, Inbred DBA; Neuropeptides; Peptides; Publishing; Remission (Medicine); Rheumatoid arthritis; Th1 Cells - immunology; Th2 Cells - immunology; vasoactive intestinal peptide; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide - pharmacology
• ISSN: 1078-8956; 1546-170X
• DOI: 10.1038/87887

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic and debilitating autoimmune disease of unknown etiology, characterized by chronic inflammation in the joints and subsequent destruction of the cartilage and bone. We describe here a new strategy for the treatment of arthritis: administration of the neuropeptide vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). Treatment with VIP significantly reduced incidence and severity of arthritis in an experimental model, completely abrogating joint swelling and destruction of cartilage and bone. The therapeutic effect of VIP was associated with downregulation of both inflammatory and autoimmune components of the disease. Our data indicate VIP as a viable candidate for the development of treatments for RA.