Home Life Sciences A plant Kunitz-type inhibitor mimics bradykinin-induced cytosolic calcium increase and intestinal smooth muscle contraction
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A plant Kunitz-type inhibitor mimics bradykinin-induced cytosolic calcium increase and intestinal smooth muscle contraction

  • Sheila Siqueira Andrade , Soraya Soubhi Smaili , Priscila Totarelli Monteforte , Antônio Miranda , Maria Kouyoumdjian , Misako Uemura Sampaio , Guiomar Silva Lopes and Maria Luiza V. Oliva EMAIL logo
Published/Copyright: September 1, 2012

Abstract:

BbKI is a kallikrein inhibitor with a reactive site sequence similar to that of kinins, the vasoactive peptides inserted in kininogen moieties. This structural similarity probably contributes to the strong interaction with plasma kallikrein, the enzyme that releases, from high-molecular weight kininogen (HMWK), the proinflammatory peptide bradykinin, which acts on B2 receptors (B2R). BbKI was examined on smooth muscle contraction and Ca2+ mobilization, in which the kallikrein-kinin system is involved. Contrary to expectations, BbKI (1.8 μm) increased [Ca2+]cand contraction, as observed with BK (2.0 μm). Not blocked by B1 receptors (B1R), the BbKI agonistic effect was blocked by the B2R antagonist, HOE-140 (6 μm), and the involvement of B2R was confirmed in B2R-knockout mice intestine. The same tissue response was obtained using a synthetic peptide derived from the BbKI reactive site structure, more resistant than BK to angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) hydrolysis. Depending on the concentration, BbKI has a dual effect. At a low concentration, BbKI acts as a potent kallikrein inhibitor; however, due to the similarity to BK, in high concentrations, BbKI greatly increases Ca2+ release from internal storages, as a consequence of its interaction with B2R. Therefore, the antagonistic and agonistic effects of BbKI may be considered in conditions of B2R involvement.


Corresponding author: Maria Luiza V. Oliva, Department of Biochemistry, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Três de Maio 100, 04044-020 São Paulo, SP, Brazil

Received: 2012-2-22
Accepted: 2012-7-2
Published Online: 2012-09-01
Published in Print: 2012-09-01

©2012 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin Boston

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