Kinins in Chronic Inflammation. In: Back N, Martini L, Paoletti R, editors. Pharmacology of Hormonal Polypeptides and Proteins. Boston: Springer US; 1968. pp. 595-600. [DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4614-4612-5_70]

Leukotrienes reduce nociceptive responses to bradykinin

The biotransformation of arachidonic acid leads to two important groups of inflammatory mediators, the leukotrienes and the prostaglandins. Hyperalgesic effects have been demonstrated for prostaglandins in a variety of animal models but the effects of leukotrienes on inflammatory pain are less well documented. Using the isolated rabbit ear model of algesia we have shown that perfusion of the ear with the leukotrienes B4, C4 and D4 (10(-8)-10(-7) M) causes a reversible, dose- and time-dependent reduction of the reflex fall in systemic blood pressure and the "head flick" response induced by injection of bradykinin (400 ng), without affecting similar responses induced by the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. The antagonistic effect of leukotrienes on the algesic action of bradykinin could be reversed by the leukotriene antagonist FPL55712 (2 micrograms/ml). This result implies that the leukotrienes may have a desensitizing effect on the nociceptor during an inflammatory response in contrast to the pain threshold-lowering action of the E- and I-type prostaglandins.

Kinin system in clinical and experimental rheumatoid inflammation: a short review

The kallikrein, kininogen, kinin and kininase system along with other inflammatory chemical mediators are important components for the initiation and maintenance of clinical and experimental rheumatoid-like inflammatory conditions. Numerous studies carried out in the last few years, however, strongly suggest that the kinin-forming system intervenes in a far wider range of physio-pathological processes than has been considered previously. The authors summarize present knowledge concerning the system and review some of the latest experimental findings and opinions.