VIP — a Natural Peptide — Opens Airways and Blocks Histamine Reactions in Asthma Patients
Intravenous vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) opened airways and blocked histamine-induced bronchoconstriction in all seven asthmatic volunteers tested in this early double-blind study.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Intravenous VIP caused significant bronchodilation in all seven asthmatic volunteers and protected against histamine-induced bronchoconstriction in every subject. The dose was 6 pmol/kg/min infused over 15 minutes. Side effects included tachycardia (rapid heart rate) and cutaneous flushing during the infusion.
Key Numbers
n=7 asthmatic volunteers · 6 pmol/kg/min for 15 min · Bronchodilation in all subjects · Protection against histamine-induced bronchoconstriction in all subjects
How They Did This
Double-blind study in seven adult asthmatic volunteers. VIP was administered intravenously at 6 pmol/kg/min for 15 minutes. Bronchodilation was measured (likely by forced expiratory volume), and subjects were also challenged with histamine to test whether VIP could protect against bronchoconstriction.
Why This Research Matters
This was one of the first human studies demonstrating that VIP — a naturally occurring peptide — could open airways in asthma patients and block histamine-triggered airway narrowing. Published in The Lancet in 1983, it established VIP as a potential natural bronchodilator in humans and suggested an entirely new peptide-based approach to asthma treatment.
The Bigger Picture
VIP is one of the body's own bronchodilators, found in nerve fibers throughout the airways. This 1983 Lancet study helped establish the concept that endogenous peptides — not just synthetic drugs like salbutamol — could be therapeutic targets for asthma. While VIP itself proved difficult to develop as a drug (it breaks down rapidly and causes systemic side effects when given IV), it opened the door to research on peptide-based airway therapies and VIP analogs with better pharmacological properties.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Very small sample size (only 7 subjects). Intravenous delivery caused systemic side effects (tachycardia, flushing), making this route impractical for routine asthma treatment. The study did not test inhaled VIP, which would be the clinically relevant delivery method. Short duration — only a single 15-minute infusion was tested.
Questions This Raises
- ?Could inhaled VIP or stabilized VIP analogs achieve bronchodilation without the systemic side effects seen with IV delivery?
- ?Is VIP deficiency in airway nerves a contributing factor in some forms of asthma?
- ?How does VIP's bronchodilatory mechanism compare to beta-agonists like salbutamol?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 7 out of 7 protected Every asthmatic volunteer showed bronchodilation and protection against histamine-induced airway constriction after VIP infusion
- Evidence Grade:
- This is a small (n=7) double-blind human study published in The Lancet. While the double-blind design adds rigor, the very small sample size limits statistical power. It's best understood as early proof-of-concept rather than definitive clinical evidence.
- Study Age:
- Published in 1983, this is a foundational historical study — over 40 years old. VIP has not become a standard asthma treatment due to delivery challenges, but the study remains widely cited as key evidence for VIP's bronchodilatory properties in humans.
- Original Title:
- Vasoactive intestinal peptide causes bronchodilatation and protects against histamine-induced bronchoconstriction in asthmatic subjects.
- Published In:
- Lancet (London, England), 2(8361), 1225-7 (1983)
- Authors:
- Morice, A, Unwin, R J, Sever, P S
- Database ID:
- RPEP-00018
Evidence Hierarchy
Frequently Asked Questions
What is VIP and why is it relevant to asthma?
Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is a naturally occurring peptide found in nerve fibers throughout the body, including the airways. It relaxes smooth muscle, including the muscles that tighten during an asthma attack. This study showed that giving VIP to asthma patients opened their airways and protected against histamine, suggesting the body has a built-in peptide bronchodilator system.
If VIP works so well, why isn't it used for asthma?
Two main problems: VIP breaks down very quickly in the bloodstream (half-life of about one minute), and intravenous delivery causes unwanted side effects like rapid heartbeat and flushing. Researchers have worked on inhaled forms and stabilized VIP analogs, but none have reached widespread clinical use for asthma.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/RPEP-00018APA
Morice, A; Unwin, R J; Sever, P S. (1983). Vasoactive intestinal peptide causes bronchodilatation and protects against histamine-induced bronchoconstriction in asthmatic subjects.. Lancet (London, England), 2(8361), 1225-7.
MLA
Morice, A, et al. "Vasoactive intestinal peptide causes bronchodilatation and protects against histamine-induced bronchoconstriction in asthmatic subjects.." Lancet (London, 1983.
RethinkPeptides
RethinkPeptides Research Database. "Vasoactive intestinal peptide causes bronchodilatation and p..." RPEP-00018. Retrieved from https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/morice-1983-vasoactive-intestinal-peptide-causes
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkPeptides research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.