Sensory neuropeptides and rheumatic diseases.

Sensory peptides are involved not only in neurotransmission and neuromodulation but also in the local control of immune function, vascular tone, and cellular proliferation. It appears that different activities of these neuropeptides are mediated by specific receptors on immune and nonimmune cells. The purpose of this article is to discuss what is known of the main sensory neuropeptides and to speculate on their possible pathophysiologic role in joint (rheumatoid arthritis) and connective tissue diseases (systemic sclerosis).