For Research Use Only. VIP is intended strictly for in vitro and preclinical animal research. It is not approved for human use, is not a drug, and should never be administered to humans.
Recent Peer-Reviewed Research on VIP Biology
Investigators sourcing VIP for animal model work should be familiar with the two primary lines of mechanistic literature that shape current research priorities. The receptor pharmacology of VIP runs through two related G-protein coupled receptors (VPAC1 and VPAC2), and the differential expression and signaling of those receptors is what determines which tissue or immune cell population dominates the response in any given study.
The neuroprotective side of the VIP literature is anchored by Yang and colleagues' focal cerebral ischemia work indexed at ScienceDirect's Brain Research, which characterized VIP-mediated reduction of infarct volume in a rat middle cerebral artery occlusion model. The protective effect tracked with VPAC1 receptor signaling and was associated with reduced microglial activation in the peri-infarct region, suggesting the mechanism involves both direct neuronal protection and modulation of the neuroinflammatory response. The time window for effective administration in that study was 1 to 4 hours post-occlusion, which is the experimental constraint most subsequent stroke recovery research designs around.
The immune modulation side of the VIP literature is exemplified by Tan and colleagues' work on VPAC2 receptor knockout mice and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis published at ScienceDirect's Brain Behavior and Immunity, which demonstrated that VPAC2-deficient animals develop exacerbated EAE with increased Th1/Th17 polarization and reduced Treg populations. The finding established VPAC2 as a tonic regulator of regulatory T cell maintenance and provided the mechanistic basis for VIP's broader anti-inflammatory profile in autoimmune model systems. A complementary paper in Nature's Scientific Reports on VIP and tumor-associated macrophage polarization in CT26 mice extended these findings into the cancer immunology setting, characterizing how VIP signaling shifts macrophage polarization between M1 and M2 phenotypes in the tumor microenvironment.
Together these papers map the two dominant research contexts for VIP: central nervous system protection (mediated primarily through VPAC1 on neurons and microglia) and peripheral immune modulation (mediated through VPAC1 and VPAC2 across T cell, macrophage, and dendritic cell populations). Sourcing decisions matter because the 28 amino acid sequence (His-Ser-Asp-Ala-Val-Phe-Thr-Asp-Asn-Tyr-Thr-Arg-Leu-Arg-Lys-Gln-Met-Ala-Val-Lys-Lys-Tyr-Leu-Asn-Ser-Ile-Leu-Asn-amide) requires C-terminal amidation for full receptor binding affinity, and incomplete amidation (a common SPPS byproduct) produces a peptide with reduced potency at both VPAC receptors. The VIP 10mg product page lists the batch COA with HPLC purity, mass spectrometry confirmation of the amidated C-terminus, and the sequence verification needed to align experimental work with the published literature.
What Research Grade VIP Supply Requires
Vasoactive intestinal peptide is a twenty eight amino acid peptide of the secretin glucagon family. The size and sequence complexity make the synthesis and purification more demanding than for shorter peptides, but the chemistry is well established and research grade VIP is routinely produced to appropriate specifications.
Research grade supply has to confirm the peptide sequence, the mass, and the purity with documentation that matches the complexity of the peptide. The sequence identity should be confirmed by tandem mass spectrometry or equivalent sequencing methods. The mass should match the theoretical mass within appropriate analytical tolerance. The purity should be at least ninety five percent by HPLC.
Midwest Peptide supplies VIP 10mg with third party certificates of analysis that address these requirements.
Sourcing Criteria for Research Grade VIP
Third party certificate of analysis. Independent analytical verification with lot specific values for sequence, mass, and purity.
Purity specification. Research grade VIP is supplied at a minimum of ninety five percent HPLC purity.
Mass confirmation. Mass spectrometric analysis confirming the correct peptide mass.
Sequence verification. Tandem mass spectrometry or equivalent sequencing confirming the twenty eight amino acid sequence.
Lot traceability. Every vial carries a lot number that traces to the production batch.
Research use only compliance. The VIP research cluster covers the preclinical research applications including VPAC receptor biology, neuroinflammation research, circadian research, pulmonary research, cardiovascular research, and immune modulation research.
Shipping. Domestic shipping from Mission, Kansas through ShipStation and UPS.
Payment flexibility. Zelle (five percent discount), CashApp, Venmo, Azeban Pay, and Coinbase Commerce.
Research support. Direct support through 636-734-2390 and the contact page.
Red Flags When Evaluating VIP Suppliers
Purity below research grade or unspecified. Ninety five percent HPLC purity minimum with lot specific values.
No third party certificate. Independent analytical verification is the research grade standard.
Incomplete sequence verification. A certificate that does not confirm the full peptide sequence is inadequate for a twenty eight amino acid peptide.
Health claims or implied human use. Suppliers making such claims operate outside the research use only framework.
Opaque supplier. Legitimate research peptide suppliers have known physical locations and real customer support.
What VIP Is Studied For in Research
The VIP research cluster covers the full landscape. The short summary is that VIP is studied in rodent and larger animal research models for effects across vascular biology, immune modulation, central nervous system biology including circadian rhythms, respiratory biology, and neuroprotection. The VPAC receptor system is the shared signaling pathway across these diverse research contexts.
Complementary research with related neuropeptides is supported by the parallel Midwest Peptide catalog offerings. Selank 10mg and Semax 10mg provide related research peptides for studies that examine different neuropeptide signaling systems. The Selank research cluster and the Semax Neuroinflammation Research: Microglial Modulation provide the relevant research context.