Current Pharmaceutical Design - Volume 13, Issue 11, 2007

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, VIP, was discovered from the intestinal tissues based on its vasodilatory activity in 1974 [1], and its paralog, pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide or PACAP, was isolated from the ovine hypothalamic tissues based on the activity to stimulate adenylate cyclase in pituitary cell cultures [2]. Both peptides are active in the central nervous system as well as in the peripheral tissues. Read More

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) mediates important events during the development of the nervous system. VIP can stimulate neuronogenesis as well as differentiation and neurite outgrowth; it can promote the survival of neurons and assist in neuronal repair; it is also anti-inflammatory and can modulate immune responses. In addition, VIP is necessary for the normal growth and development of the early postimplantation m Read More

NAP (Asn-Ala-Pro-Val-Ser-Ile-Pro-Gln, single letter code: NAPVSIPQ) and ADNF-9 (activity-dependent neurotrophic factor-9; Ser-Ala-Leu-Leu-Arg-Ser-Ile-Pro-Ala; single letter code: SALLRSIPA) are peptides derived from naturally occurring glial proteins that have shown neuroprotection in rodent model systems. Here, the neuroprotective activity of ADNF-9 and NAP was tested in two human models of neuronal degeneration in cult Read More

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) receptors are present in the normal brain as well as periphery, and cancer cells. Three major types of VIP receptors include the VPAC1, VPAC2 and PAC1 receptors. VPAC1 receptors are present in high densities on human lung and breast cancer cells lines and biopsy specimens. Radiolabeled VIP analogues have been developed for imaging of lung and breast cancer. Synthetic VIP receptor Read More

Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a ubiquitous neuropeptide in the central and peripheral nervous systems. PACAP is also produced by pancreatic islet cells. PACAP regulates the glucose and energy metabolism at multiple processes in several tissues. At postprandial states, PACAP potentiates both insulin release from pancreatic β-cells and insulin action in adipocytes, contributing to energy storage. At Read More

The vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) are two neuropeptides belonging to the VIP/secretin/glucagon family of peptides. VIP/PACAP are present and released from both innervation and immune cells, particularly Th2 cells, and exert a wide spectrum of immunological functions controlling the homeostasis of immune system through different receptors expressed Read More

Carotid artery disease is a well-established cause of cerebrovascular events. This risk is predicted by the severity of stenosis and other plaque characteristics that can be documented using imaging techniques. Among these techniques, ultrasound is the most widely available. Increased carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) measured ultrasonically is associated with a higher risk for cerebrovascular as well as coronary he Read More

The 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol-4-phosphate (MEP) pathway for isoprenoid biosynthesis has come under increased scrutiny as a target for novel antimalarial, antibacterial and herbicidal agents. 1-Deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase (DXR) is a key enzyme of the pathway that catalyzes the rearrangement and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-dependent reduction of 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-p Read More

Suboptimal disposition behavior of drugs requires innovative delivery approaches. Magnetic drug targeting seems to be a promising one. Magnetic particles develop magnetic polarization and magnetophoretic mobility, and because of such unique properties, these carriers may be eligible candidates for delivering drugs to specific locations within the body. Their special properties also allow other uses, such as those in mag Read More