Vasoactive peptides in the skin

• The vascular effects of endogenous substances can be eas- ily studied in the skin. Early in this century vasoregulation was shown to be dependent on innervation. Peptidergic trans- mitters have been shown to coexist and cotransmit along with noradrenalin and acetylcholine, sometimes being responsi- ble for non-adrenergic-non-cholinergic responses. This review summarizes recent information on vasoregulatory effects of neuropeptides such as substance P (SP), neurokinin A (NU), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide (PACAP), neuropeptide Y (NF’Y) and somatostatin. All these peptides are vasodilators, and some of them seem to be in- volved in neurogenic inflammation. Some vasoactive peptides and other vasoactive molecules such as nitric oxide (NO) and histamine can originate both from nerves and cells and are crucially involved in vasoregulation. Other cell-derived peptides and molecules such as bradykinin, endothelins and prostaglandins may contribute to neurogenic inflammation. All the peptides and molecules described also exist in other organs such as the brain, heart, lung, pancreas and gastrointestinal tract. The effect of neuropeptides seems to vary from one organ or tissue to another - e.g., NPY e.g., is a potent vasoconstrictor in cardiac and cerebral vascular beds but acts as a vasodilator when it occurs in the skin. The presence of mast cells and inflammatory cells may create a special environment in the Skin

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Dermatologi och venereologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Dermatology and Venereal Diseases (hsv//eng)

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