Heterogeneous vasomotor responses in segments from Göttingen Minipigs coronary, cerebral, and mesenteric artery: A comparative study.

Göttingen Minipigs (GM) are used as an important preclinical model for cardiovascular safety pharmacology and for evaluation of cardiovascular drug targets. To improve the translational value of the GM model, the current study represents a basic characterization of vascular responses to endothelial regulators and sympathetic, parasympathetic, and sensory neurotransmitters in different anatomical origins. The aim of the current comparative and descriptive study is to use myography to characterize the vasomotor responses of coronary artery isolated from GM and compare the responses to those obtained from parallel studies using cerebral and mesenteric arteries.

CGRP inhibits human Langerhans cells infection with HSV by differentially modulating specific HSV-1 and HSV-2 entry mechanisms.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is widespread globally, with both HSV-1 and HSV-2 responsible for genital herpes. During sexual transmission, HSV targets epithelial cells, sensory peripheral pain neurons secreting the mucosal neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), and mucosal immune cells including Langerhans cells (LCs). We previously described a neuro-immune crosstalk, whereby CGRP inhibits LCs-mediated human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) transmission.

Native CGRP Neuropeptide and Its Stable Analogue SAX, But Not CGRP Peptide Fragments, Inhibit Mucosal HIV-1 Transmission.

Background: The vasodilator neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) plays both detrimental and protective roles in different pathologies. CGRP is also an essential component of the neuro-immune dialogue between nociceptors and mucosal immune cells. We previously discovered that CGRP is endowed with anti-viral activity and strongly inhibits human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection, by suppressing Langerhans cells (LCs)-mediated HIV-1 trans-infection and mucosal HIV-1 transmission .