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Reports of Chagas disease are increasing in non-endemic populations across the globe. Apart from vector eradication and prevention efforts by public health organizations, current pharmacological interventions are sparse and show important side effects. In this issue of the BJP, Andrade et al. elegantly demonstrate a new pharmacological paradigm whereby Trypanosoma cruzi host cell invasion requires significant cross-talk between receptors for kinins and endothelins. It is shown, for example, that acting via both ETA and ETB receptors, endothelin-1 (ET-1) cooperates with the (TLR2/CXCR2/B2 kinin receptor) complex to activate inflammatory processes in response to invading trypomastigotes. This study by Andrade et al. prompts, however, several important questions, summarized in this Commentary, such as the putative role of chymase-dependent production of ET-1, the contentious protective role of ACE inhibitors in Chagasic patients, the unexplored role of de novo formed B1 receptors for kinins triggered by cytokines and the putative role of compartmentalized calcium pools in host cell invasion by trypomastigotes. LINKED ARTICLE This article is a commentary on Andrade et al., pp. 1333-1347 of this issue. To view this paper visit [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the role of the brain kallikrein-kinin system in the development of various pathological processes, such as oedema formation following brain injury or induction of central hypertonia has generated major interest, the possible role of this system in nociceptive processing has received little attention. In their present paper, Mortari et al. (2007) show that bradykinin B2 receptor activation in the brain by the bradykinin analogue, Thr6-bradykinin, isolated from the venom of the social wasp, Polybia occidentalis potently reduces acute, noxious heat-evoked reflex responses in naive rats. The unknown underlying mechanism of this powerful antinociceptive effect reminds us that the supraspinal antinociceptive system is still a “black box” in many aspects and awaits thorough investigation.British Journal of Pharmacology (2007) 151, 721–722; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0707274; published online 29 May 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A conference paper on the role of extracellular products of the mastitis-inducing pathogens, Escherichia coli (EC), and Staphylococcus aureus (SA) in the activation of bovine milk kallikreins is presented. The study indicated that the presence in milk of the pathogens is associated with elevated bradykinin (BK) levels. It showed that both EC and SA directly activate BK formation in milk by activating synthetic tissue- and plasma-kallikreins-like activity in the milk.

A conference paper about the role of gap junctions in the bradykinin-induced relaxation of the bovine pulmonary supernumerary arteries is presented. It discusses on how the assessment was made with the use of fresh bovine lungs including the different phases the tissue underwent. Further, it revealed that gap junctions does not contribute to the bradykinin-induced relaxation of bovine supernumerary arteries instead it involved in the mediation with nitric acid.

A conference paper about the non-cholinergic component of the bronchoconstrictor response to bradykinin (BK) is presented. It investigates the involvement of leukotrienes, tachykinins and the peptidases, angiotensin converting enzyme and neutral endopeptidase. It shows that the bronchoconstrictor response to BK is not mediated by leukotrienes or tachykinins.

A conference paper about the selectivity of the ascorbate blockade in the ciliary vascular bed and the occurrence of the blockade in the porcine left anterior descending coronary artery is presented. It reveals that bradykinin induces concentration-dependent and endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF)-mediated vasodilatation. It concludes that ascorbate-induced blockade of EDHF-mediated vasodilatation in the bovine ciliary circulation appears to be selective.

A conference paper about the ability of large pulmonary arteries to utilize an endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF) after removing nitric oxide or inhibiting guanylyl cyclase is presented. It discusses the effect of potassium channel blockers on the concentration response curve for bradykinin-induced relaxation. It concludes that bradykinin induces relaxation in this study.