The therapeutic effect of vasoactive intestinal peptide on experimental arthritis is associated with CD4+CD25+ T regulatory cells

Scand J Immunol. 2008 Dec;68(6):572-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-3083.2008.02178.x.

Abstract

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) has been found to act as a potent anti-inflammatory factor through regulating the production of both anti- and pro-inflammatory mediators and promoting Th2-type responses. In this study, we used Chicken collagen II-induced experimental arthritis (CIA) model in Wistar rats to investigate the potential effects of VIP on rheumatoid arthritis. Our results showed that in vivo treatment of CIA-induced rats with VIP had great protective benefit at both clinical and histological levels. Disease suppression was associated with the inhibition of T cells proliferation, shifting of the immune response toward a Th2-type response and expanded CD4(+)CD25(+) Treg in the periphery, which inhibited autoreactive T cell activation/expansion. In conclusion, the study provides evidence that VIP had great protective effect on CIA through its inhibition actions on pathogenic T cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arthritis, Experimental / chemically induced
  • Arthritis, Experimental / drug therapy*
  • Arthritis, Experimental / immunology
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / drug therapy
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / immunology
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Down-Regulation
  • Female
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / immunology
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Lymphocyte Activation / drug effects*
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / drug effects*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology
  • Th1 Cells / drug effects
  • Th1 Cells / immunology
  • Th2 Cells / drug effects
  • Th2 Cells / immunology
  • Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / immunology
  • Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Foxp3 protein, rat
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide