Elevated vasoactive intestinal peptide concentrations in patients with irritable bowel syndrome

• Published in: Digestive diseases and sciences Vol. 49; no. 7-8; pp. 1236 - 1243
• Main Authors: PALSSON, Olafur S, MORTEAU, Olivier, BOZYMSKI, Eugene M, WOOSLEY, John T, SARTOR, R. Balfour, DAVIES, Michael J, JOHNSON, David A, TURNER, Marsha J, WHITEHEAD, William E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer 01.08.2004; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Blotting, Western; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide - analysis; Dinoprostone - blood; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Humans; Immunoassay; Interleukin-1 - blood; Intestinal Mucosa - chemistry; Irritable Bowel Syndrome - blood; Male; Medical sciences; Other diseases. Semiology; Somatostatin - analysis; Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus; Substance P - analysis; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide - blood; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Human; immune; Substance P; Prostaglandin E2; Interleukin 1β; Metabolic diseases; calcitonin gene-related peptide; Inflammation; Calcitonin gene related peptide; Concentration; interleukin-1β; Irritable bowel syndrome; Gastroenterology; Vasoactive intestinal peptide; Digestive diseases; Intestinal disease; Somatostatin
• ISSN: 0163-2116; 1573-2568
• DOI: 10.1023/B:DDAS.0000037818.64577.ef

The aim was to assess the roles of gut hormones and immune dysfunction in irritable bowel. In Study I, rectal mucosal samples examined blindly showed no histological evidence of inflammation in 16 irritable bowel patients compared to 17 healthy controls. The proinflammatory mediators interleukin-1beta and prostaglandin E2 also failed to show evidence of inflammation. Vasoactive intestinal peptide was elevated in irritable bowel (P = 0.01), but substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide, and somatostatin levels were similar to control values. In Study II, 30 irritable bowel patients had elevated (P = 0.002) plasma concentrations of vasoactive intestinal peptide compared to 30 controls, and peptide levels were unrelated to whether the patient's predominant bowel habit was constipation, diarrhea, or both in alternation. In conclusion, no evidence of inflammation was detected in irritable bowel patients, but elevated vasoactive intestinal peptide concentrations were observed in both studies and might represent a potential diagnostic tool for irritable bowel syndrome.