Evidence for the activation of the kallikrein-kinin system in experimental asbestosis.
Immunoreactive bradykinin (BK) and its metabolites, namely des-Arg9-BK and des (Phe8,Arg9)-BK, were measured in acidic extracts of lungs from normal and asbestos-treated guinea pigs. The development of experimental asbestosis did not change the levels of BK (0.67 ng/mg and 0.72 ng/mg) while the levels of des-Arg9-BK increased from 0.06 to 0.57 ng/mg (P less than 0.01) and those of des (Phe8,Arg9)-BK, from 0.09 to 1.48 ng/mg (P less than 0.01). These increases in the amount of the BK metabolites suggest the participation of the kallikrein-kinin system in the inflammatory reaction induced by the intratracheal administration of asbestos into guinea pigs.
D000818:Animals; D001195:Asbestosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D001920:Bradykinin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007610:Kallikreins / Q000502:physiology*; D007705:Kinins / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D018002:Receptors, Bradykinin; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000032:analysis
D007705:Kinins; D018002:Receptors, Bradykinin; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; C024626:bradykinin, des-Arg(9)-; D007610:Kallikreins; D001920:Bradykinin