Non-peptide Antagonists and Agonists of the Bradykinin B2 Receptor

H.      Heitsch

Abstract

Stimulation of the bradykinin (BK) B2 receptor by kinins is associated with pathophysiological as well as pronounced beneficial effects. Consequently, interference with BK B2 receptors by either antagonism or agonism offers promising therapeutic approaches for the development of drugs for the treatment of various human diseases. BK B2 receptor antagonists may prove useful for the treatment of pathological situations caused by excessively increased local kinin concentrations, such as inflammation, tissue injury and pain. Beneficial effects of peptide BK B2 receptor antagonists in perennial rhinitis, asthma and brain edema have already been demonstrated in clinical trials. On the other hand, kinins have also been identified as potent vasodilatory and organ-protective peptides. Therefore, BK B2 receptor agonists may have the potential to become valuable therapeutics in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, myocardial hypertrophy, myocardial infarction and arrhythmias as well as diabetic disorders. For both approaches, potent, selective and even orally active non-peptide compounds have been discovered recently.

Keywords: kallikrein-kinin system, receptor antagonism, bradyzide

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