VASOACTIVE-INTESTINAL-PEPTIDE REGULATION OF GRANULOMATOUS INFLAMMATION IN MURINE SCHISTOSOMIASIS-MANSONI

Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease in which focal inflammatory res ponses called granulomas develop in the liver and intestines, The infl ammatory cells within these granulomas produce authentic vasoactive in testine peptide (VIP), VIP acts as an immune modulator. In the schisto some granuloma, VIP can suppress T cell proliferation and T lymphocyte IL-2 production, Also, it can enhance IL-5 production from granuloma T cells. The granuloma T cells bear authentic VIP receptors of both th e VIPr1 and VIPr2 subclasses. It is probable that the expression of th ese receptors is subject to immunoregulation, which is the topic of cu rrent investigation. Moreover, differences in the structure of VIPr1 a nd VIPr2 suggest that each may have unique immunoregulatory functions in inflammation. Copyright (C) 1996.