VIP, or Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide, is a naturally occurring peptide composed of 28 amino acids and found throughout multiple biological systems, including the gastrointestinal tract, nervous system, and respiratory tissues. Synthetic VIP is widely studied in laboratory research involving cellular signaling, vascular activity, immune response, gastrointestinal function, and neuroendocrine communication.

VIP research has explored its interactions with two primary G protein-coupled receptors, VPAC1 and VPAC2. Activation of these receptors is associated with intracellular signaling pathways involving cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), making VIP an important research compound for investigating cellular communication, smooth muscle activity, vascular signaling, and regulatory processes across multiple tissue types.

Another significant area of VIP research involves immune and inflammatory signaling. Laboratory studies have examined the peptide’s relationship with cytokine activity, immune-cell communication, and signaling pathways involved in inflammatory response. Researchers have also investigated VIP within gastrointestinal and respiratory research models due to the peptide’s natural presence and receptor distribution within these systems.

VIP has a molecular weight of approximately 3,326.8 g/mol and can be synthetically produced for controlled research applications. It is typically supplied as a lyophilized powder, with this formulation containing 10mg of VIP for laboratory research.