Vasoactive intestinal peptide and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide inhibit nuclear factor-kappa B-dependent gene activation at multiple levels in the human monocytic cell line THP-1

The neuropeptides vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and pituitary adenyla te cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) suppress monocyte/macrophage prod uction of proinflammatory agents. The transcription factor NF-KB regulates the transcription of most agents. VIP/ PACAP inhibit NF-KB transactivation in the lipopolysaccharide-stimulated human monocytic cell line THP-1 at mul tiple levels. First, VIP/PACAP inhibit p65 nuclear translocation and NF-KB DNA binding by stabilizing the inhibitor IKB alpha. Second, VIP/PACAP induc e phosphorylation of the CRE-binding protein (CREB) and its binding to the CREB-binding protein (CBP). This results in a decrease in p65 CBP complexes , which further reduces NF-KB transactivation. Third, VIP and PACAP reduce the phosphorylation of the TATA box-binding protein (TBP), resulting in a r eduction in TBP binding to both p65 and the TATA box. All these effects are mediated through the specific receptor VPAC1. The cAMP/cAMP-dependent prot ein kinase pathway mediates the effects on CBP and TBP, whereas a cAMP-inde pendent pathway is the major transducer for the effects on p65 nuclear tran slocation. Since NF-KB represents a focal point for various stimuli and ind uces the expression of many proinflammatory genes, its targeting by VIP and PACAP positions them as important anti-inflammatory agents. The VIP/PACAP inhibition of NF-KB at various levels and through different transduction pa thways could offer a significant advantage over other anti-inflammatory age nts.