Breve historia del VIP, un péptido que hace honor a su sigla

摘要

VIP, the vasoactive intestinal peptide, was isolated as a gut hormone, then described as a neurotransmitter of the central and peripheral nervous system, in the ′80s re-discovered as an immune peptide and lately recovered with a its role in pregnancy. It belongs to the family of secretin, glucagon and related peptides that activate group B GPCR (G protein coupled receptors). In this review the most relevant aspects of this pleiotropic peptide are summarized as well as its potential as a lead molecule in Pharmacology, everything trimmed with Profesor Said’s reflections who, together with Professor Viktor Mutt, started the experiments that led to its isolation and characterization 50 years ago.