Ca2+ signalling of kinins in cells expressing rat, mouse and human B1/B2-receptor.

With respect to functional aspects, the kallikrein-kinin-system can be divided into a plasma kallikrein-kinin-system and a tissue kallikrein-kinin-system. At least four functional kinin peptides act via two different G-protein-coupled receptors, an inducible B1-receptor and a constitutively expressed B2-receptor. B1R and B2R couple to G(q/11) and lead via phospholipase C to Ca2+ mobilization.

Kallidin-like peptide mediates the cardioprotective effect of the ACE inhibitor captopril against ischaemic reperfusion injury of rat heart.

1. The potential cardioprotective effect of ACE inhibitors has been attributed to the inhibition of bradykinin degradation. Recent data in rats documented a kallidin-like peptide, which mimics the cardioprotective effect of ischaemic preconditioning.

A kallidin-like peptide is a protective cardiac kinin, released by ischaemic preconditioning of rat heart.

Bradykinin is thought to play a major role among the endogenous cardioprotective candidates of ischaemic preconditioning (IPC). Little attention has been paid to the fact that in the tissue kallidin (KAL), rather than bradykinin might be the physiological mediator of the kallikrein-kinin system. In order to evaluate the importance of one or the other peptide the release and effect of both kinins has been investigated in isolated rat hearts following IPC.