Peptide histidine valine-42 stimulates gastric acid secretion in man

Recent developments in the chemistry of gastrointestinal peptides

Work carried out in different laboratories has shown that the peptide pattern of the intestinal tissue is very complex and that some of the peptides are identical to those found in the central nervous system. The best studied of the peptides are of a hormonal nature, but recently evidence has been obtained that others may primarily act as antibiotics. In addition, peptides have been isolated that are fragments of some well-known proteins that have not been viewed as being prohormones. Whether the latter peptides only represent transient degradation products of the proteins or whether, at least some of them, have a physiologically meaningful selective function of their own is not yet clear.

Effects of preprovasoactive intestinal polypeptide-derived peptides on ileal output

Tumors associated with the Verner Morrison syndrome secrete peptide histidine methionine, its C-terminally extended variant peptide histidine valine, and vasoactive intestinal peptide. There is evidence that vasoactive intestinal peptide mediates diarrhea, but recent evidence suggested that peptide histidine methionine and peptide histidine valine may be at least as important. Infusion of vasoactive intestinal peptide, peptide histidine methionine, and peptide histidine valine into patients with ileostomies produced mean plateau plasma levels of 163, 1301, and 2106 pM, respectively, which are within the range seen in the Verner Morrison syndrome. Vasoactive intestinal peptide produced an integrated ileal output of 174 (53) g (mean [SEM]), compared with only 20 (7) g with peptide histidine methionine and 10 (3) g with peptide histidine valine. These results suggest that vasoactive intestinal peptide is substantially more important than peptide histidine methionine or peptide histidine valine in mediating diarrhea in the Verner Morrison syndrome.