Purification and amino acid sequence of vasoactive intestinal peptide, peptide histidine isoleucinamide (1-27) and secretin from the small intestine of guinea pig

The neuropeptides vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and peptide histidine isoleucinamide (1-27) (PHI) and the hormone secretin were purified from the small intestine of guinea pig, being detected by radioimmunoassay and radioreceptor assay throughout six to seven chromatographic steps. After elution on a reverse-phase C18 column, the three peptides were separated on a Fractogel column. After cation-exchange chromatography of each peptide on Mono S, the final steps were performed using a reverse-phase RP8-e column. Guinea pig PHI differed from porcine PHI in having Tyr and Arg residues instead of Phe and Lys in, respectively, position 10 and 20. We confirmed the original sequence of guinea pig VIP previously documented (with Leu5, Thr9, Met19 and Val26). We also established the similarity of the primary structure of guinea pig secretin with that of porcine and bovine.     

Purification and amino acid sequence of vasoactive intestinal peptide, peptide histidine isoleucinamide and secretin from the ovine small intestine

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), peptide histidine isoleucinamide (PHI) and secretin were separated and purified to homogeneity from ovine small intestine, using radioimmunoassay and radioreceptor assay for detection. An efficient and rapid purification sequence included acid extraction, concentration on a bulk C18 cartridge, filtration on a Fractogel column, ion-exchange chromatography on Mono-S and a maximum of three successive reverse-phase HPLC steps. The amounts of peptides obtained from 450 g wet weight tissue were 20 micrograms VIP, 15 micrograms PHI and 5 micrograms secretin. The as yet unknown amino acid sequences of the three peptides were found to be identical to those of the corresponding bovine peptides.     

Secretin, VIP, and PHI stimulate rat proximal duodenal surface epithelial bicarbonate secretion in vivo

The surface epithelial cells of the stomach and duodenum secrete bicarbonate at rest and in response to a number of agonists including the gastrointestinal hormones, glucagon, and GIP. Since those hormones with structural homology may have similar effects, the purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of graded doses (6, 24, and 96 nmol/kg) of pure porcine secretin, VIP, and PHI on bicarbonate secretion by the proximal duodenum containing Brunner's glands. Experiments were performed in vivo on unanesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats with chronic Thiry-Vella type loops of the proximal 2 cm of duodenum. The order of testing was random and only one hormone was tested on a single day. Compared to the saline control, each dose of VIP produced a significant increase in duodenal bicarbonate secretion in a dose-response manner. The two higher doses of secretin and only the 96 nmol/kg dose of PHI significantly increased bicarbonate output. The responses to 96 nmol/kg dose of secretin and VIP were similar, and each was significantly greater than observed with PHI. It is concluded that secretin and VIP stimulate proximal duodenal bicarbonate secretion and are more potent than PHI.     

PHI--a new brain-gut peptide

The detection of the C-terminal amide structure in porcine intestinal extracts has led to the discovery of a 27 amino acid residue peptide designated PHI (PHI-27, peptide HI). The peptide was found to have structural homologies to vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF). Subsequent studies have revealed that PHI exhibits a variety of biological activities which resemble those of VIP. Moreover, it was found that the peptide is able to inhibit the binding of VIP to its receptors, and to stimulate cyclic AMP production. PHI is present in both brain and gut in high concentrations and probably acts as a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator rather than a hormone. A comparison of the amino acid sequences of porcine, human and bovine PHI indicated that human PHI differs from the porcine peptide in two positions (12 and 27), and bovine PHI differs in one position (10). The amino acid sequence (deduced from the cDNA sequence) of the VIP precursor recently obtained from human neuroblastoma cells also contains an identical sequence to the newly-isolated human PHI from human colonic extracts. PHI has thus been shown to be co-synthesized with VIP in the same precursor molecule.     

Actions of a new peptide from porcine intestine (PHI) on pancreatic secretion in the rat and turkey

A newly purified peptide from porcine intestine (PHI) was found to be a potent stimulant of the flow of pancreatic juice in anaesthetized turkeys (D₅₀ 75 ng/kg), and was about half as active as chicken vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP, D₅₀ 47 ng/kg) to which it is structurally related. However, in anaesthetized rats, PHI, like VIP, was a weak stimulant of the flow of pancreatic juice. In contrast, porcine secretin, which is also structurally related to PHI, is a potent stimulant of the rat pancreas and a weak stimulant in birds. PHI had less than 0.01% immunochemical potency in a VIP radioimmunoassay. We conclude that PHI has VIP-like rather than secretin-like actions on the pancreas in birds and mammals; an avian counterpart of PHI could play a physiological role in the control of the exocrine pancreas.     

Comparison of helodermin, VIP and PHI in pancreatic secretion and blood flow in dogs

Helodermin, VIP and PHI, which share a high degree of homology with secretin, have been identified in the gut but their physiological role is unknown. In this study 3 series of tests were carried out to determine the actions of helodermin, VIP and PHI on pancreatic secretion in 6 conscious dogs and amylase release from the dispersed canine pancreatic acini and to correlate the alterations in pancreatic secretory and circulatory effects in 24 anesthetized dogs. Helodermin, VIP and PHI infused i.v. in graded doses (12.5-200 pmol/kg.h) resulted in a dose-dependent increase in pancreatic HCO3 secretion reaching, respectively, 100%, 7% and 2% of secretin maximum. When combined with constant dose infusion of CCK-8 (100 pmol/kg.h), helodermin but not VIP or PHI augmented dose-dependently the HCO3 secretion. When added in various concentrations (10(-10)-10(-5)M) to the incubation medium of dispersed pancreatic acini only helodermin but not VIP or PHI increased dose-dependently amylase release reaching about 50% of CCK-8 maximum. In anesthetized dogs, the pancreatic blood flow (PBF) measured by electromagnetic blood flowmetry showed an immediate and dose-dependent increase following the injections of various doses of helodermin, VIP, PHI and secretin, the peak blood flow preceding by about 1 min the peak secretory stimulation. This study shows that helodermin resembles secretin in its potent pancreatic HCO3 stimulation but differs from VIP or PHI which are poor secretagogues but potent vasodilators. We conclude that if tested peptides are released in the gut, helodermin, like secretin, may be involved in the hormonal stimulation of exocrine pancreas, whereas VIP and PHI may serve mainly as vasodilators in the pancreatic circulation.     

Identity of a membrane-bound vasoactive intestinal peptide-binding protein with calmodulin.

A vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)-binding protein purified from guinea pig lung membranes (p18) was digested with trypsin, and the amino acid sequence of the peptide fragments was determined. The sequence of six tryptic fragments of p18 was identical with subsequences present in mammalian calmodulin. Authentic porcine brain calmodulin and p18 co-migrated on an sodium dodecyl sulfate-electrophoresis gel and displayed identical chromatographic behavior on a reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography column. The VIP-binding properties of p18 and calmodulin were indistinguishable. Both proteins displayed saturable and apparent high affinity binding of VIP, evidenced by potent inhibition of complexation with [Tyr10-125I]VIP by unlabeled VIP (IC50 = 6.0-8.1 nM). Rat growth hormone releasing factor and a C terminally extended form of VIP ([Leu17]VIP-GKR) also displayed potent inhibition of the binding (IC50 = 6.4 and 4 nM, respectively). These neuropeptides are potential modulators of calmodulin function.     

Cerebral Vascular Adenylate Cyclase: Evidence for Coupling to Receptors for Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide and Parathyroid Hormone

We have studied the responsiveness of vascular adenylate cyclase to vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) using preparations of cerebral microvessels and arteries. Cerebral microvessels obtained from rats, guinea-pigs, cattle, and pigs all responded potently to bovine (b) PTH-(1-34), whereas considerable between-species variability was observed in the responsiveness to VIP. The homologous peptide to VIP, PHI (porcine heptacosapeptide), stimulated adenylate cyclase in both rat microvessels and a broken-cell preparation of bovine arteries. The ED50 values for activation of bovine arterial adenylate cyclase by VIP, PHI, and bPTH-(1-34) were 6.9 nM, 10 nM, and 100 nM, respectively, with the following order of efficacy: VIP = PHI greater than bPTH-(1-34). The other related peptides, hpGRF (human pancreatic growth hormone releasing factor), secretin, and glucagon, and the fragment VIP-(10-28) were inactive. The PTH antagonist, [Nle8, Nle18, Tyr34]bPTH-(3-34) amide, inhibited bPTH-(1-34) activation of vascular adenylate cyclase but did not affect activation by VIP using either microvessels or arteries. VIP or PHI demonstrated an additive effect with bPTH-(1-34) on vascular adenylate cyclase activity. However, the effects of VIP and PHI were nonadditive with each other. These data suggest that VIP and bPTH-(1-34) activate cerebral vascular adenylate cyclase by interacting with pharmacologically distinct receptors, whereas PHI and VIP likely interact with a common receptor.     

D-Phe4]peptide histidine-isoleucinamide ([D-Phe4]PHI), a highly selective vasoactive-intestinal-peptide (VIP) agonist, discriminates VIP-preferring from secretin-preferring receptors in rat pancreatic membranes

The capacity of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), peptide histidine-isoleucinamide (PHI), secretin, and a series of analogs to discriminate between VIP-preferring and secretin-preferring receptors that coexist in rat pancreatic plasma membranes was evaluated by their ability to inhibit [125I]iodo-VIP and [125I]iodo-secretin binding and to activate adenylate cyclase. VIP, the VIP analogs [D-His1]VIP, [D-Ser2]VIP, [D-Asp3]VIP and [D-Ala4]VIP, PHI, [D-Phe4]PHI, and secretin inhibited the binding of both ligands in a concentration range of 10(-11) M to 10(-5) M and with a selectivity factor varying from 18,000 to 0.1. The only exception was [D-Phe4]PHI that inhibited 125I-VIP binding only, with an IC50 of 7 nM, and with no inhibition of 125I-secretin binding at 10 microM. The peptides tested stimulated adenylate cyclase in the same membranes and the slope of the dose-effect curves indicated that all peptides, except [D-Phe4]PHI, interacted with at least two classes of receptors: VIP-preferring and secretin-preferring receptors. By contrast, the dose-effect curve of [D-Phe4]PHI activation of adenylate cyclase was monophasic and competitively modified by [D-Phe2]VIP (a VIP antagonist) but not by secretin(7-27) (a secretin antagonist), indicating an interaction with VIP-preferring receptors only. Thus, [D-Phe4]PHI appears to be a highly selective tool to characterize these receptors.     

Relaxant effect of rat PHI, PHI-Gly and PHV(1-42) in the rat gastric fundus.

It was previously shown that porcine PHI is 30 times less potent than VIP in relaxing the rat gastric fundus; the relaxant potency of rat PHI and its 2 C-terminally extended forms PHI-Gly and PHV(1-42) in the rat gastric fundus was compared here with that of VIP, porcine PHI and PHM. The rank order of potency in relaxing the precontracted fundus tissues was VIP greater than rat PHI greater than PHM greater than PHV greater than PHI-Gly greater than porcine PHI, rat PHI being only 2 times less potent than VIP. In the presence of antioxidants, the potency and efficacy of porcine PHI increased, but the peptide was still the least potent of the series tested. The results illustrate the importance of using species-related peptides and are compatible with a cotransmitter role of rat PHI in nonadrenergic noncholinergic neurotransmission of the rat gastric fundus.     

The effects of VIP on cyclic AMP and glycogen levels in vertebrate retina

The effects of VIP and related-peptides (PHI, secretin, glucagon) on cyclic AMP formation were investigated in intact pieces of rabbit retina. VIP and PHI increased cyclic AMP levels with EC50 of 160 nM and 300 nM respectively. At 5 microM the peptides increased cyclic AMP 46 fold (VIP) and 38 fold (PHI). Secretin was much less potent and glucagon was totally inactive. VIP was also tested for its effects on glycogen levels under similar experimental conditions. In contrast to its pronounced glycogenolytic action in mouse cerebral cortical slices, VIP at 1 microM decreased only moderately (38.3%) 3H-glycogen newly synthesized from 3H-glucose by pieces of rabbit retina. Furthermore a discrepancy between the efficacy of VIP in increasing cyclic AMP and in promoting glycogenolysis appears to exist. A similar dissociation between these two cellular events was also observed with other neuroactive substances. Thus the pronounced increase in cyclic AMP induced by dopamine and forskolin was accompanied by only a moderate decrease in 3H-glycogen levels. Conversely 50 mM potassium induced a 79.9% decrease in 3H-glycogen levels without any significant increase in cyclic AMP.     

Interaction of Gila monster venom with secretin receptors in rat pancreatic membranes

The stimulatory effect of Gila monster venom on adenylate cyclase activity in rat pancreatic membranes was compared to that of porcine secretin and porcine VIP. The maximal effect exerted by the venom was identical to that of VIP but significantly lower than that of secretin. The effect of Gila monster venom could, however, be attributed to its interaction with secretin receptors rather than with VIP receptors, at variance with its previously described action on guinea pig pancreatic acini. Adenylate cyclase activation by both Gila monster venom and secretin in rat pancreatic membranes was, indeed: (1) dose-dependently inhibited by two secretin fragments secretin-(4-27) and secretin-(7-27), and (2) more severely depressed than VIP stimulation, after pretreating pancreatic membranes with dithiothreitol (DTT).     

Prolactin-releasing activity of porcine intestinal peptide (PHI-27)

Porcine intestinal peptide (PHI), a twenty-seven amino acid peptide isolated from porcine gut extracts, is a close structural homolog of the secretin family hormones. The structural and biological similarities of PHI to vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) together with its presence in the rat hypothalamus suggested a possible role for the peptide in the control of prolactin (PRL) secretion. PHI induced significant, dose-related stimulations of PRL release from cultured, dispersed rat pituitary cells in vitro. The minimum effective dose is 10⁷ molar, compared to 10⁹ molar for VIP. No interactive effect with thyrotropin-releasing hormone was observed; however, PHI partially overcame the dopamine inhibition of PRL release.     

Effects of PHI on vasoactive intestinal peptide receptors and adenylate cyclase activity in lung membranes. A comparison in man, rat, mouse and guinea pig

The presence of receptors, recognized by vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) as well as by PHI (a peptide with N-terminal histidine and C-terminal isoleucine amide), was documented in lung membranes from rat, mouse, guinea pig and man by the ability of these receptors, once occupied, to stimulate adenylate cyclase. In lung membranes from rat, mouse and guinea pig, the capacity of VIP, PHI and secretin to stimulate the enzyme and the potency of the same peptides to compete with 125I-VIP for binding to VIP receptors were similar, the affinity decreasing in the order: VIP greater than PHI greater than secretin. In addition, dose-effect curves were compatible with the coexistence of high-affinity and low-affinity VIP receptors, in the four animal species considered. If PHI was able to recognize all VIP receptors it could not, however, discriminate the subclasses of VIP receptors.     

Organ distribution and characterization of porcine peptides (VIP, CGRP and PHI) that increase cAMP in rat platelets.

Using an assay for rat platelet cAMP, we investigated the organ distribution of peptides that increase cAMP in rat platelets in porcine tissues. Marked activity was observed in the duodenum, pancreas and brain. By analysis with reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), three major peaks of activity were observed in porcine tissues. The first peak was vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), and the second peak was calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). The third peak of activity was isolated from porcine duodenum. By analysis with a gas phase sequencer and with an amino acid analyzer, this peptide was identified as peptide histidine isoleucine (PHI). In a glucagon-secretin family of neuropeptides, pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) significantly increased platelet cAMP levels in a dose-dependent manner; however, glucagon did not. These results suggest that not only VIP and CGRP but also PHI and PACAP act upon platelets, as well as vascular tissues.     

A novel form of the polypeptide PHI isolated in high yield from bovine upper intestine. Relationships to other peptides of the glucagon-secretin family

A novel form of the polypeptide termed PHI (peptide HI with N-terminal histidine and C-terminal isoleucine amide) has been isolated from bovine upper intestine. This bovine peptide was obtained in a 40 times higher yield than the corresponding polypeptide isolated from porcine intestine. Bovine PHI is, like porcine PHI, composed of 27 amino acid residues. The complete amino acid sequence of the bovine peptide is His-Ala-Asp-Gly-Val-Phe-Thr-Ser-Asp-Tyr-Ser-Arg-Leu-Leu-Gly-Gln-Leu-Ser- Ala- Lys-Lys-Tyr-Leu-Glu-Ser-Leu-Ile-NH2. This sequence differs from porcine PHI at position 10 and from human PHI at positions 10, 12 and 27. The amino acid residue exchange between porcine and bovine PHI makes the latter more similar to the vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP), glucagon and the growth-hormone-releasing factor (GRF).     

Pharmacological characterization of VIP receptors in human lung membranes

The ability of VIP, PHI, secretin, helodermin, and seven N-terminally D-amino monosubstituted VIP and PHI analogs to occupy (125I)iodo-VIP labeled receptors and to activate adenylate cyclase was tested on human lung membranes purified by the method of Schachter et al. Best fitted Kd, Kact and % of max. values suggested the coexistence, in near equal proportions, of two classes of VIP-preferring binding sites coupled to adenylate cyclase that showed similar decreasing affinity for: VIP greater than (D-Ala4)-VIP greater than (D-Asp3)-VIP = (D-Ser2)-VIP greater than (D-His1)-VIP greater than PHI greater than (D-Phe2)-VIP greater than (D-Phe4)-VIP. (D-Arg2)-VIP was a non-selective agonist. A third receptor type, coupled to adenylate cyclase and showing high affinity for secretin and helodermin but not for VIP, was also detected.     

Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide-Related Peptides Modulate Tyrosine Hydroxylase Gene Expression in PC12 Cells Through Multiple Adenylate Cyclase-Coupled Receptors

Abstract: We investigated the receptor mechanisms by which vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and related peptides exert their effects on tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) gene expression. VIP, secretin, and peptide histidine isoleucine (PHI) each produced increases in TH gene expression, as measured by increases in TH mRNA levels and TH activity. The concentrations at which the effects of these peptides were maximal differed for TH activity and TH mRNA. Moreover, maximal increases in TH activity were 130-140% of control, whereas maximal increases in TH mRNA were 250% of control. The concentration dependence of the increases in TH mRNA in response to the three peptides was analyzed by fitting the data to nonlinear regression models that assume either one or two components to the response. The data for secretin fit best to a model that assumes a single component to the increase in TH mRNA levels. The data derived for PHI and VIP fit best to models that assumed two components to the TH mRNA response. These data suggested that there may be more than one receptor or signal transduction mechanism involved in the response to the various peptides. We examined whether the peptides exerted their effects through common or multiple second messenger systems. The ability of maximally active concentrations of these peptides to stimulate increases in TH mRNA was not additive, indicating that the peptides work through a common receptor or signal transduction pathway. Each peptide stimulated increases in protein kinase A (PKA) activity. Secretin and VIP were ineffective in increasing TH mRNA levels in a PKA-deficient mutant PC12 cell line (A 126-1B2). Moreover, the adenylate cyclase antagonist 2′,5′-dideoxyadenosine prevented the increase in TH mRNA produced by each peptide. Thus, each peptide requires an intact cyclic AMP second messenger pathway to produce changes in TH gene expression, suggesting that the complex pattern of response to VIP and PHI revealed by concentration-response analysis was due to the actions of these peptides at multiple receptors. To evaluate this possibility, we examined the effect of several peptide receptor antagonists on the increase in TH gene expression elicited by VIP, PHI, and secretin. The secretin antagonist secretin (5–27) (20 μM) had no significant effect on VIP or PHI stimulation of TH gene expression, but reduced the effect of secretin. The VIP antagonist VIP (10–28) (20 μM) reduced the effect of VIP on increasing TH mRNA, but had no significant effect on the response of TH mRNA to secretin or PHI. Interestingly, the VIP antagonist [Ac-Tyr¹,D-Phe²]-growth hormone releasing factor [GRF(1–29)] amide (20 μM) potentiated the effect of VIP on elevating TH mRNA levels, but had no effect on secretin-stimulated TH mRNA induction. To determine whether this response was mediated through the cyclic AMP pathway, we examined the effects of the VIP antagonist [Ac-Tyr¹,D-Phe²]-GRF(1–29) amide on VIP stimulation of PKA activity. Although the antagonist had no effect alone, it enhanced stimulation of PKA activity by VIP. Taken together, these findings indicate that VIP and secretin stimulate TH mRNA through different adenylate cyclase-linked receptors and that a second VIP receptor may modulate TH induction by inhibiting VIP stimulation of PKA.     

Isolation of a brain peptide identical to the intestinal PHI (peptide HI)

The isolation of a brain peptide identical to the intestinal peptide PHI (peptide HI) is described. The peptide was isolated from porcine brain extract using a chemical assay method based on its C-terminal isoleucine amide structure. The complete amino acid sequence of the peptide was found to be: His-Ala-Asp-Gly-Val-Phe-Thr-Ser-Asp-Phe-Ser-Arg-Leu-Leu-Gly-Gln-Leu-Ser-Ala- Lys-Lys-Tyr-Leu-Glu-Ser-Leu-Ile-NH2. This sequence is identical to the intestinal peptide thus demonstrating PHI to be a brain-gut peptide. The role of PHI in the central nervous system as a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator is discussed.     

Evidence that vascular actions of PHI are mediated by a VIP-preferring receptor

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and peptide histidine isoleucine (PHI) are homologous neuropeptides which share vasodilatory properties. This paper addresses the question of whether PHI exerts its vascular action via a receptor distinct from that for VIP. Radioligand binding experiments were done using [Tyr(125I)10]VIP, [Tyr(125I)22]porcine PHI, [Tyr(125I)10]rat PHI and arterial preparations from rat, bovine and porcine species. The radioiodination of rat PHI by the lactoperoxidase-glucose oxidase method and analysis of the structure of the major radiolabeled derivatives were described. All the receptor binding experiments identified a VIP-preferring receptor irrespective of which radioligand or arterial preparation was utilized. VIP and PHI peptides demonstrated cross-desensitization in studies of relaxation of porcine coronary arterial strips in vitro. The present results favor the conclusion that the vascular actions of the PHI peptides are best explained by binding to a VIP-preferring receptor.