VIP
Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide
Vasodilating neuropeptide.
Half-life
~ minutes
Mol. weight
3325.0 g/mol
Sequence
HSDAVFTDNYTRLRKQMAVKKYLNSILN
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Overview
A 28-amino-acid neuropeptide with broad vasodilatory, smooth-muscle-relaxant, and immune-modulating effects, acting through VPAC receptors found across many tissues including skin vasculature. Its skin-research interest comes from vasodilatory effects on skin blood flow, but VIP is a true multi-tasker whose systemic breadth makes it a complex, broad-acting research target rather than a focused cosmetic agent.
Mechanism of action
VIP binds VPAC1 and VPAC2 receptors (G-protein-coupled) found on vascular smooth muscle, immune cells, and many other tissues. Signaling raises cAMP to produce vasodilation, smooth-muscle relaxation, and immune modulation. Its skin-research relevance stems from the vasodilatory effect on skin vasculature, but the same receptor distribution across the body is why VIP also affects bronchodilation, gut motility, and immune cytokine regulation — effects that cannot be cleanly isolated to the skin.
Researched benefits
- Promotes vasodilation (skin blood flow interest)
- Smooth-muscle relaxation
- Immune-modulating effects
Considerations
- Broad systemic effects — not skin-specific
- Research stage for most uses
- Professional guidance essential
Key Academic Literature & Studies
Search more in PubMedPeer-reviewed citations and clinical trials evaluating VIP in scientific literature.
Query PubMed for recent peer-reviewed preclinical and clinical publications on VIP:
View VIP index on PubMed (NCBI)