Involvement of bradykinin B1 and B2 receptors in human PMN elastase release and increase in endothelial cell monolayer permeability.

Bradykinin (BK) is a potent inflammatory mediator, which can release other inflammatory mediators by interacting with bradykinin B1 and B2 receptors. The role of kinins in regulating human PMN elastase release was studied. BK induced elastase release 5-fold over basal levels. Elastase release was inhibited by both B1 and B2 receptor antagonists. A specific B1 agonist des-Arg10-KD increased elastase release 4-fold. Since elastase has been implicated in vascular leak, the effect of BK on endothelial cell monolayer (EM) permeability was assessed. BK increased EM leak (I125 flux) across the EM, whereas des-Arg10-KD was inactive. When co-cultured with human umbilical vein endothelial cells, des-Arg10-KD-treated PMNs increased EM leak by 35%. The elastase inhibitor AAVPK blocked des-Arg10-KD-induced leak by 80% suggesting that elastase is responsible for the increase in permeability. It is concluded that BK causes increased leak by inducing PMN elastase release via activation of both B1 and B2 receptors. BK blockade and elastase inhibition may be beneficial in inflammatory diseases such as ARDS which is characterized by increased lung permeability and both kinin and PMN activation are thought to participate.