NEUROPEPTIDES - ROLE IN INFLAMMATORY SKIN DISEASES

The cutaneous nervous system recently has been demonstrated to interac t with multiple target cells in the skin and to mediate actions import ant in inflammatory conditions. Neuropeptides released by cutaneous ne urons such as substance P (SP), vasointenstinal peptide (VIP), calcito nine gene regulated peptide (CGRP), proopiomelancortin (POMC) peptides and others modulate the function of immunocompetent and inflammatory cells as well as epithelial and endothelial cells. They have been foun d to function as mediators of cell proliferation, cytokine and growth factor production as well as adhesion molecule and cell surface recept or expression. In addition many cells including keratinocytes, fibrobl asts, endothelial cells and inflammatory cells have been shown to rele ase several neuropeptides and they express their corresponding recepto rs. These findings indicate that neuropeptides participate in the comp lex network of mediators that regulate cutaneous inflammation, hyperpr oliferation and wound healing. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.