J. Rehbock et al., THE B-2 RECEPTOR ON CULTURED HUMAN DECIDUA CELLS - RELEASE OF ARACHIDONIC-ACID BY BRADYKININ, Immunopharmacology, 33(1-3), 1996, pp. 164-166
In vitro studies on cultured human decidual cells present evidence for
the expression of the bradykinin B-2 receptor. This protein was local
ized by immunocytochemical methods at the cellular plasma membrane and
the mRNA was found in cellular extracts by RT-PCR. As a biological ef
fect the release of C-14-AA was observed. Cells that had been incubate
d for 24 h with C-14-AA showed a bradykinin (BK)-induced release of ra
dioactivity into the culture medium. This response was prevented by th
e specific bradykinin B-2 receptor antagonist HOE 140. Pretreatment wi
th LPS resulted in an increase of the spontaneous release of radioacti
vity. Adding BK, a further release of about 40-50% was to be shown. We
conclude that BK can play a role in the case of bacterial infection o
f the fetal membranes AND may stimulate labour by an augmented product
ion of prostaglandins.