The regulation of connective tissue metabolism by vasoactive intestinal polypeptide.
Rahman S., Dobson PR., Bunning RA., Russell RG., Brown BL.
Immunohistochemical studies have confirmed the innervation of bone with neuropeptidergic neurons containing vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). In this study, we report effects of VIP on connective tissue cell metabolism. VIP stimulated PGE2 production in human articular chondrocytes, human osteoblast-like cells and human synovial cells, however, stromelysin production was unaffected. VIP also stimulated cAMP production in human osteoblast-like cells, but not in human articular chondrocytes or synovial cells. These findings are suggestive of a role of VIP in connective tissue cell metabolism which may contribute to the inflammatory processes of arthritis.