Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) in humans with multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neuroinflammatory disease of the central nervous system that leads to demyelination and neurodegeneration. VIP and PACAP are structurally related neuropeptides with neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory activities. To evaluate VIP and PACAP-38 in plasma and CSF in humans in correlation with IL-6, IL-10 and TNF alpha we compared 20 MS individuals with 27 healthy controls. In MS, a decrease in PACAP-38 in CSF and a decrease in plasma IL-6 concentration were seen. A positive correlation between plasma VIP and plasma IL-6 was identified. We conclude that VIP and PACAP may influence the course of MS. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.