Bradykinin
Bradykinin is a vasoactive nonapeptide produced by the kinin system. It has a number of tissue actions:
- vasodilation, possibly by a direct effect and via prostaglandin mediation
- increase in vascular permeability by the opening of intercellular gaps in post-capillary venules
- stimulation of phospholipase A2 and production of arachidonic acid
- slow-onset, long-duration contraction of smooth muscle
- pain; again histamine mediation is likely
Physiologically, bradykinin may be important in:
- regulating blood supply to exocrine glands
- inflammatory responses
- pain production of pancreatitis via kallikrein release
Bradykinin is inactivated by angiotensin converting enzyme.
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