vasoactive-intestinal-peptide and Food-Hypersensitivity

Infantile colic is a widespread clinical condition in the first 3 months of life, which is easily recognized, but incompletely understood and difficult to solve. The available evidence suggests that infantile colic might have several independent causes. The medical hypotheses include food hypersensitivity or allergy, immaturity of gut function and dysmotility, and the behavioural hypotheses include inadequate maternal-infant interaction, anxiety in the mother and difficult infant temperament. Other recent hypotheses, such as hormone alterations and maternal smoking, still need confirmation, whereas the new concept of alterations in the gut microflora, have been reported. A number of interventions, including pharmacological agents, are discussed, but it is probable that infants with colic require a graded strategy.. Considering the favourable clinical course and the wide range of manifestations, a safe approach should be adopted, which is proportional to the intensity of the infantile colic. However, further research and guidelines are still needed.

Topics: Colic; Diet; Feeding Behavior; Food Hypersensitivity; Gastroesophageal Reflux; Gastrointestinal Motility; Gastrointestinal Tract; Glucose Solution, Hypertonic; Humans; Infant; Lactose Intolerance; Phytotherapy; Probiotics; Psychology; Severity of Illness Index; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide

It is known that the immune tolerance can be naturally established in the intestine, while the mechanism by which the immune tolerance development in the intestine is not fully understood yet. Vasoactive intestinal peptides (VIP) has the immune regulatory functions. This study aims to investigate the role of VIP in the immune tolerance development in the intestine.. Intestinal epithelial cell (IEC)-derived exosomes were prepared. The exosomes carried IL-10 and antigen/MHC II complexes. VIP-deficient (VIPd) mice and wild type mice were employed to test the role of VIP in the development of immune tolerance in the intestine.. VIPd mice failed to induce type 1 regulatory T cells (Tr1 cells) in the intestine and retarded the establishment of antigen (Ag)-specific immune tolerance. Exposure to VIP in the culture induced IL-10 expression in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs). Exosomes derived from ovalbumin (OVA, used as a specific Ag)/VIP-primed IECs carried IL-10 and OVA/MHC II complexes; these exosomes were designated IL10CARs (IL-10/chimeric antigen receptor-carrying exosomes). IL10CARs could recognize OVA-specific CD4. The data show that IL10CARs are capable of suppressing experimental FA by inducing antigen-specific Tr1 cells, which has the translation potential for FA treatment.

Topics: Animals; Antigens; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Epithelial Cells; Exosomes; Food Hypersensitivity; Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; Immune Tolerance; Interleukin-10; Intestinal Mucosa; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Ovalbumin; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide

The immune regulatory cell dysfunction is associated with many immune diseases including food allergy (FA). This study aims to investigate the role of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in the maintenance of regulatory B cell (Br cell)'s immune suppressive functions by stabilizing thrombospondin (TSP1) expression. In this study, blood samples were collected from patients with food allergy (FA) and healthy control (HC) subjects. Br cells were isolated from the samples through flow cytometry cell sorting and analyzed by immunological approaches to determine the immune regulatory capacity. We found that the immune suppressive functions of Br cells were impaired in FA patients. The serum VIP levels were associated with the production of immune suppressive function-related mediators (interleukin-10, IL-10) of Br cells in FA patients. VIP counteracted IL-10 mRNA decay in Br cells by up regulating the TSP1 expression. TSP1 inhibited tristetraprolin (TTP) to prevent IL-10 mRNA decay in Br cells. Administration of VIP inhibited FA response through restoration of immune suppressive functions in Br cells. In conclusion, administration of VIP can alleviate FA response through up regulating expression of TSP1 to stabilize IL-10 expression in FA Br cells and recover the immune regulatory functions. The results have translational potential for the treatment of FA and other disorders associated with immune regulatory dysfunction of Br cells.

Topics: Adult; Animals; B-Lymphocytes, Regulatory; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors; Female; Food Hypersensitivity; Humans; Interleukin-10; Male; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; Young Adult

Among neurogenic factors, the neuropeptides have an important regulatory influence on immune system activity and may lead to allergic sensitization.. The aim of our study was to investigate the relationship of the neuropeptides vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), somatostatin (SOM) and substance P (SP) on modulation of Th1/Th2 balance and allergic sensitization in children.. Within the LISAplus (Life style-Immune system-Allergy) study, blood samples of 321 six-year-old children were analysed for concentration of neuropeptides, Th1 and Th2 cytokines, transcription factors for T cell regulation and suppressors of cytokine signalling. In addition, samples were screened for specific IgE against inhalant and food allergens.. Children with high SOM values showed a Th2 polarization and a reduced expression of FOXP3, the marker for regulatory T cells. High (VIP) levels correlated inversely with the expression of T cell transcription factors (Tbet and SOCS3). In contrast, elevated levels of SP were associated with reduced GATA3 and SOCS3 expression and with increased IFN-gamma concentrations. Allergic sensitization was more prevalent in children with higher SOM and VIP concentrations but not associated with SP levels.. Our data reveal an association between neuropeptides and modulatory effects on immune cells in vivo, especially on Th1/Th2 balance with a correlation to allergic sensitization in children. We suggest that elevated SOM and VIP concentrations and the inducing factors should be considered as allergy risk factors.

Topics: Biomarkers; Child; Female; Food Hypersensitivity; Forkhead Transcription Factors; GATA3 Transcription Factor; Humans; Hypersensitivity; Immunoglobulin E; Interferon-gamma; Interleukin-4; Interleukin-5; Interleukin-9; Logistic Models; Male; Neuropeptides; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger; Somatostatin; Substance P; Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 1 Protein; Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 Protein; Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins; Th1 Cells; Th2 Cells; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide

The aim of this study was to characterize some functional properties of intestine mast cells taken from children with food intolerance. The cells were obtained from tissue specimens by the use of the enzymatic method and the sensitivity of mast cells to anti-IgE, substance P (SP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) was studied in vitro. We have noticed that (1) mast cells were sensitive to the action of anti-IgE, but there was no correlation with total IgE level, (2) although mast cells were challenged with SP and VIP histamine release was low.

Topics: Child; Child, Preschool; Food Hypersensitivity; Histamine Release; Humans; Immunoglobulin E; Infant; Intestine, Small; Mast Cells; Substance P; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide