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An increase in bradykinin has been suggested to contribute to the enhanced insulin sensitivity observed in the presence of ACE inhibitors. To investigate a potential direct, nonvascular effect on an insulin target tissue, the effect of bradykinin on glucose uptake and insulin signaling was studied in primary rat adipocytes. Whereas basal glucose uptake was not altered, bradykinin augmented insulin-stimulated glucose uptake twofold, which was blocked by HOE-140, a bradykinin [B.sub.2] receptor antagonist. The bradykinin effect on glucose uptake was nitric oxide (NO) dependent, mimicked by NO donors and absent in adipocytes from endothelial NO [synthase.sup.-/-] mice. Investigation of insulin signaling revealed that bradykinin enhanced insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) Tyr phosphorylation, Akt/protein kinase B phosphorylation, and GLUT4 translocation. In contrast, insulin-stimulated extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 and Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) activation were decreased in the presence of bradykinin, accompanied by decreased IRS-1 [Ser.sup.307] phosphorylation. Furthermore, bradykinin did not enhance insulin action in the presence of the JNK inhibitor, SP-600125, or in adipocytes from JNK[1.sup.-/-] mice. These data indicate that bradykinin enhances insulin sensitivity in adipocytes via an NO-dependent pathway that acts by modulating the feedback inhibition of insulin signaling at the level of IRS-1., Insulin resistance is associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes (1). Factors implicated in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance include nutrient excess, elevated levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, resistin, [...]