bradykinin

Last reviewed 01/2021

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.