Search

The article discusses the transplantation of gut microbiota from patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It examines the functional role of gut bacteria by colonizing a germ-free mice with a fecal microbiota from healthy control individuals and IBS patients with diarrhea (IBS-D). It notes that the mice receiving the IBS-D fecal microbiota showed a similar microbial composition to that of mice receiving the healthy control fecal microbiota.

Kinins are important peptide mediators of a diverse range of physiological and pathological functions of the cardiovascular system. The kinin peptides exert their effects by selective activation of two distinct G-protein coupled receptors termed B1 and B2. The principal kinin peptides involved in the acute regulation of cardiovascular function during normal physiology are bradykinin (BK) and Lys-BK which produce their effects via activation of B2 receptors. The B1 receptor is activated by the des-Arg9kinin metabolites namely des-Arg9BK and Lys-des-Arg9BK, the synthesis of which are increased during inflammation. The B1 receptor, which is not constitutively expressed, is induced in various pathologies relating to inflammation. Recent investigations into the molecular mechanisms of B1 receptor induction and their distribution and function in the cardiovascular system have shown that following an inflammatory stimulus the B1 receptor is induced and may play an important role in modulation of cardiovascular function. This review summarises recent studies on B1 receptor expression and function in the cardiovascular system and discusses the role of these receptors in regulation of circulatory homeostasis and their potential as therapeutic targets. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]