vasoactive-intestinal-peptide and Acquired-Immunodeficiency-Syndrome

Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Adult; AIDS Dementia Complex; Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Calcinosis; CD4 Antigens; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Cell Survival; Central Nervous System; Child; Child Behavior Disorders; Child, Preschool; Cognition Disorders; Eye Diseases; Female; Global Health; Hippocampus; HIV; HIV Antibodies; HIV Envelope Protein gp120; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Male; Mice; Molecular Sequence Data; Molecular Structure; Neurons; Peptide T; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases; Receptors, Virus; Severity of Illness Index; Spinal Cord Diseases; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Vacuoles; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide

Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Humans; Neuropeptides; Peptide T; Receptors, HIV; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide

The incidence of non-AIDS-defining cancer is remarkably higher in HIV-infected than in the general population. In contrast, breast cancer risk is significantly reduced in the HIV-infected population. The molecular mechanisms underlying the phenomenon of suppression of breast cancer in the HIV-infected population may serve as a basis for development of a new platform for prevention and treatment of breast cancer.. Various evidences indicate that vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) plays an important role in growth, and differentiation of breast cancer. We previously showed (i) that natural antibodies recognizing VIP and the gp120-derived peptide NTM significantly contribute to the control of HIV disease progression by suppression of VIP-like activity of HIV-1 gp120 and (ii) that physical exercise stimulates production of these natural antibodies. These findings suggest that natural anti-VIP/NTM antibodies could contribute to a decrease of breast cancer in the HIV-infected population by suppression of VIP, which may play a pro/oncogenic function. Aerobic exercise which stimulates production of anti-VIP/NTM antibodies could be used as prevention and supportive treatment of breast cancer.. Immunotherapy based on natural anti-VIP/NTM antibodies could serve as an effective adjunct therapy for the treatment of breast cancer. Similarly, aerobic exercise, which stimulates production of these antibodies, should be considered as an inexpensive and safe preventive and supportive breast cancer therapy. Natural anti-VIP/NTM antibodies also represent promising prognostic marker for breast cancer.

Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Antibodies, Viral; Breast Neoplasms; Exercise; Female; HIV Envelope Protein gp120; Humans; Immunotherapy; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide

Elevated plasma levels of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) (as assessed by a radio-immunoassay), were found in 7/11 patients with AIDS or AIDS-related Complex (ARC), evaluated because of prolonged intractable diarrhea with either an infectious (6 cases) or a non-infectious (5 cases) etiology. Six subjects have been treated with the somatostatin analogue octreotide, which gave both a favourable clinical response and a significant reduction in plasma VIP concentrations. Evaluation of plasma VIP levels may provide a pathophysiological basis for explaining the efficacy of octreotide therapy in HIV-infected patients suffering from both infectious and non-infectious refractory diarrhea.

Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Adult; AIDS-Related Complex; Diarrhea; Homosexuality; Humans; Male; Octreotide; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Time Factors; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide

To evaluate plasma levels of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in AIDS patients with refractory idiopathic diarrhoea, and to assess the role of treatment with octreotide.. Three AIDS patients were evaluated for severe watery diarrhoea of 2-6 months' duration, which was complicated by weight loss, weakness, and fluid and electrolyte abnormalities. They had not shown a significant response to several regimens of empirical antimicrobial chemotherapy, or symptomatic antidiarrhoeal treatment.. A complete diagnostic examination, including repeated microbiological evaluation and radiological, ultrasonographic, endoscopic and histological examination, was performed. Plasma levels of VIP were determined by radioimmunoassay and compared with concentrations in a group of healthy subjects.. Since no clinically significant results were obtained from standard diagnostic evaluation and empirical therapeutical attempts, idiopathic refractory diarrhoea was diagnosed. Plasma concentrations of VIP were moderately elevated in all three subjects examined, with levels of 11.5, 17.5 and 9.5 pmol/l (values < 8.8 pmol/l in the control group). One patient received 50-100 micrograms octreotide three times daily subcutaneously for 6 months, resulting in complete resolution of diarrhoea and significant improvement in body weight and quality of life, together with a reduction in VIP concentration to within normal values.. Although the somatostatin analogue octreotide has been used successfully in the management of both infectious and non-infectious AIDS-related diarrhoea, gastrointestinal neuroendocrine function and circulating humoral mediators of diarrhoea have not hitherto been investigated extensively in HIV-infected subjects. Our data on the association of idiopathic secretory diarrhoea and elevated plasma VIP levels provide a possible pathophysiological rationale for identifying AIDS patients whose refractory diarrhoea may be more responsive to octreotide treatment.

Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Adult; Diarrhea; Female; Humans; Male; Octreotide; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide

Recently, in sera of HIV infected individuals, antibodies recognizing nonimmunogenic C-terminal domain of the second conserved region of HIV-1 gp120 were identified (1). These antibodies are significantly more prevalent in asymptomatic carriers than in AIDS patients (1). Here we reported striking spectral and sequence homologies between human vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and the conserved peptide derived from HIV-1 gp120 which binds these antibodies. The possible consequences of these findings on therapy and prevention of AIDS are discussed.

Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Amino Acid Sequence; Databases, Factual; HIV Antibodies; HIV Envelope Protein gp120; HIV-1; Humans; Molecular Sequence Data; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; Spectrum Analysis; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide

The neurological complications associated with infection by the AIDS virus, HIV, occurs at an early stage of the disease and often indicate a poor prognosis. A dementia, known as AIDS Dementia Complex, is the most common feature observed, and is found in a majority of patients. The effects of gp120, the external protein envelope of HIV, on cerebral glucose utilization were studied in rats. Intracerebroventricular injection of gp120 significantly reduced glucose utilization in the lateral habenula and the suprachiasmatic nucleus, two regions rich in receptors for Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP) and the whole brain metabolism showed a significant decrease. The findings suggest that gp120 may alter neuronal function, thereby contributing to sequelae of HIV infection of the brain, and that attachment of HIV particles may involve, for a part, VIP receptors.

Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Animals; Brain; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Glucose; HIV Envelope Protein gp120; HIV-1; Male; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Sleep Wake Disorders; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide

Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Amino Acid Sequence; Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; Chemotaxis, Leukocyte; HIV; HIV Envelope Protein gp120; Humans; Molecular Sequence Data; N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine; Peptide Fragments; Receptors, HIV; Receptors, Virus; Retroviridae Proteins; Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; T-Lymphocytes; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide

A five-amino-acid (TDNYT) sequence of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) shares homology with the proposed attachment sequences of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Synthetic peptides with these sequences have previously been shown to block viral envelope (gp120) binding and HIV infectivity and to serve as agonists of the CD4 (or T4) receptor. Utilizing an in vitro human monocyte chemotaxis bioassay we examined novel synthetic VIP and gp120 sequences and characterized their pharmacological activities on monocyte chemotaxis. CD4 receptor activity is primarily specified by N-terminal (VIP [1-12]) amino acids. The profound immunosuppression of AIDS is not easily explained solely by virus infection. Recently described immunological functions of VIP are similar to some of the immunological abnormalities shown by patients with AIDS. An overproduction of a VIP-like molecule from viral sources (e.g. gp120) could explain some of the immune system impairments which have been described in AIDS.

Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Chemotaxis, Leukocyte; HIV; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Ligands; Monocytes; Receptors, Virus; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide