Journal of IiME Volume 6 Issue 1 (June 2012) and neuroendocrine systems. A primary objective of the Delgado laboratory is to identify endogenous anti-inflammatory factors, mainly neuropeptides and hormones, that are produced under inflammatory and autoimmune conditions, with the aim of identifying therapeutic agents for immune disorders where tolerance is compromised. Abstract: Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), a 28 aminoacid neuropeptide, is widely distributed in both the central and peripheral nervous system. VIP is released by both neurons and immune cells. Various cell types, including immune cells, express VIP receptors, which act via stimulation of cAMP/protein kinase A pathway. VIP has potent effects as a neurotransmitter, vasodilator and secretagogue, but in the last two decades, numerous works indicate that VIP is a pleiotropic immunomodulatory factor with potential for its therapeutic use in inflammatory, autoimmune and neurodegenerative disorders. Based in our knowledge on VIP, my group have recently characterized other neuroprotective and immunomodulatory neuropeptides, which have been proven to be effective in the treatment of chronic neuroinflammatory and autoimmune diseases. In this meeting, I will highlight the most recent data relevant in the field and we will offer our opinion on how therapy with VIP and other neuropeptides might impact clinical immune diseases, including myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, and the challenges in this field that must be overcome before achieving medical progress. Finally, we will discuss how a physiologically functional neuropeptide system contributes to general health and how neuropeptides educate our immune system to be tolerant. Professor James Baraniuk Systems Biology of Interoceptive Disorders James N. Baraniuk was born in Alberta, Canada. He earned his honours degree in chemistry and microbiology, medical degree, and unique bachelor's degree in Invest in ME (Charity Nr. 1114035) medicine (cardiology) at the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada. Thereafter, he moved to Akron, OH, USA, for his internship and internal medicine residency at St Thomas Hospital. After another year of internal medicine residency at Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, he trained with Dr C.E. Buckley, III, in allergy and clinical immunology. He moved to the laboratory of Dr Michael Kaliner at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, MD, and there began his long-standing collaboration with Dr Kimihiro Ohkubo. After 2 years studying neuropeptides, he joined Dr Peter Barnes' laboratory at the National Heart and Lung Institute, Brompton Hospital, London, UK. Dr Baraniuk returned to Washington, DC, and Georgetown University, where he is currently Associate Professor with Tenure in the Department of Medicine. Abstract: We apply the term interoceptive disorders to encompass symptom complexes with excessive, prolonged perceptions of discomfort stemming from expansion and contraction of the walls of hollow organs [Adam]. Nasal, pharyngeal, bronchial, esophageal, stomach, large and small bowel, bladder, urethra and vagina have extensive networks of sensory neurons in their walls. Mechanical receptors detect the degree of stretching of these nerves and the organ. The molecular mechanisms and proteins of these sensors are still being determined. These will be targets for new classes of drugs to treat nonallergic rhinitis, dyspnea, "nutcracker esophagus", dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome, irritable bladder syndrome and vulvodynia. These interoceptive disorders are fundamental to the pathology of ME/CFS and allied disorders as can be demonstrated by analysis of syndrome subtypes using the 1994 Fukuda criteria and questionnairebased definitions of "fatigue". These criteria suggest that central sensitization of nociceptive sensory input to the spinal cord and brain leads to the pain, tenderness, hyperalgesia and allodynia. Critical mechanisms include (i) increased activation and up regulation of sensor protein systems on peripheral nociceptive nerve endings (peripheral sensitization); (ii) increased glutamate release from peripheral nerves in the dorsal spinal cord; (iii) changes in glutamate and AMPA receptor expression on the secondary, www.investinme.org Page 102 of 108
103 Publizr Home