Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP)
Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP) is a 28–amino-acid peptide that relaxes blood vessels, boosts fluid secretion in the gut and airways, and calms inflammation. In research, it’s used to study treatments for breathing disorders, digestive issues, and inflammatory diseases by improving circulation, easing smooth-muscle tension, and regulating immune responses.
Compound Overview
About the product
VIP is a linear peptide of 28 natural L-amino acids with free N- and C-termini. It carries no additional chemical modifications in its native form. Research-grade VIP is made by solid-phase peptide synthesis and purified by HPLC to ≥95 % purity, with mass spectrometry confirming its correct sequence and mass.
VIP binds to two G-protein–coupled receptors (VPAC1 and VPAC2) on blood vessels, smooth muscle, and immune cells. Receptor activation raises intracellular cAMP, causing blood-vessel relaxation, increased fluid secretion in the gut and airways, and downregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines. In simple terms, VIP widens vessels, promotes secretion, and calms inflammation.
VIP is studied for improving blood flow in pulmonary hypertension, reducing gut inflammation in Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, and blocking joint inflammation in arthritis. Early trials show that VIP infusions can lower lung pressures, ease diarrhea and abdominal pain, and reduce joint swelling. More research is underway to confirm these benefits.
Reported side effects include flushing, headache, mild low blood pressure, and nasal congestion after infusion. These effects are generally transient and resolve when dosing stops. No serious systemic toxicity has been documented in short-term studies. Long-term safety data are still limited.
VIP is synthesized by Fmoc solid-phase peptide methods, assembling 28 amino acids on a resin. After cleavage and deprotection, it is purified by preparative HPLC and sterile-filtered. Analytical HPLC and mass spectrometry verify purity and identity. Manufacturing follows research-grade peptide standards.
VIP is not approved by the FDA or EMA for therapeutic use. It is available only through clinical-trial programs under investigational-new-drug protocols. No commercial or over-the-counter formulations exist.
Investigational studies have used intravenous infusions of 2–10 pmol/kg/min over several hours, repeated daily for up to one week. Doses and schedules vary by protocol. No standardized human dosing guidelines exist outside these trials.
Do use only in approved clinical trials with medical supervision.Do monitor blood pressure and heart rate during infusion.Don’t combine with other vasodilators off-protocol.Don’t use outside ethically approved research settings.
Q: Can VIP help with asthma?A: Early research suggests it may open airways and reduce inflammation, but larger trials are needed.Q: Does VIP affect digestion?A: Yes; it increases intestinal fluid secretion and can ease motility disorders.Q: Is VIP stable in the bloodstream?A: It has a short half-life (~1–2 minutes), requiring continuous infusion in studies.
For research use only. Not approved for medical use.
