Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide and Somatostatin in Leucocytes

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Abstract
Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) was measured in extracts from polymorphonuclear (PMN) and mononuclear (MN) leukocytes from 14 healthy persons and 21 pigs. Extracts from PMN and MN cells from 8 pigs were studied for possible contents of somatostatin. Immunoreactive VIP was present in PMN and MN leukocytes from man and pigs with a significantly higher level in the MN cells. Immunoreactive somatostatin was found in both cells from pigs, with a significantly higher amount in the MN keukocytes. Extracts from pure populations of human PMN and MN leukocytes were separately applied on a Sephadex G-50 Fine column, and VIP, somatostatin, secretin, GIP [gastric inhibitory polypeptide] and motilin were measured in the eluted fractions. Only VIP and somatostatin were present in detectable amounts. Immunoreactive VIP eluted corresponding to the elution volume for pure porcine VIP in extracts from both PMN and MN cells, while immunoreactive somatostatin eluted corresponding to the elution volume for the synthetic tetradecapeptide somatostatin in extracts from MN cells only. Possible physiological implications of these findings [for infectious and inflammatory processes] are briefly discussed.