NAP, a Peptide Derived from the Activity‐Dependent Neuroprotective Protein, Modulates Macrophage Function

Abstract: NAP is an eight‐amino acid neuroprotective peptide NAPVSIPQ; it is the smallest active element derived from the recently cloned activity‐dependent neuroprotective protein (ADNP) . NAP readily enters the brain from the blood. It will be important to learn whether NAP, in addition to its neuroprotective activity, also might influence immune‐mediated inflammation. Here, we report that: ( a ) macrophages express ADNP; ( b ) expression of ADNP in macrophages responds to VIP; and ( c ) NAP downregulates the key inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF‐α), interleukin‐16 (IL‐16), and IL‐12 in macrophages. These findings indicate that ADNP/NAP can play an important role in immune regulation as well as in neuroprotection, which may be mutually related processes.