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Updated: Jan 19, 2026

Author Spotlight: Reliable and Reproducible In Vitro Assessment of Drug Impact on Rat Intestinal Tubes
Published on: July 26, 2024
Recent advances in vasoactive intestinal peptide physiology and pathophysiology: focus on the gastrointestinal system
Mari Iwasaki1, Yasutada Akiba1,2, Jonathan D Kaunitz1,3
1Greater Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Abstract:
Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), a gut peptide hormone originally reported as a vasodilator in 1970, has multiple physiological and pathological effects on development, growth, and the control of neuronal, epithelial, and endocrine cell functions that in turn regulate ion secretion, nutrient absorption, gut motility, glycemic control, carcinogenesis, immune responses, and circadian rhythms. Genetic ablation of this peptide and its receptors in mice also provides new insights into the contribution of VIP towards physiological signaling and the pathogenesis of related diseases. Here, we discuss the impact of VIP on gastrointestinal function and diseases based on recent findings, also providing insight into its possible therapeutic application to diabetes, autoimmune diseases and cancer.
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