Bradykinin-related peptides up-regulate the expression of kinin B1 and B2 receptor genes in human promonocytic cell line U937.

Kinins, universal mediators of inflammation, are recognized by two kinds of receptors, B1 and B2, which have been found to be expressed in numerous cell types of several species. However, the knowledge of the regulation of these receptors in leukocytes is still not satisfactory. In the current work, we have demonstrated a constitutive production of B2 receptor mRNA in the human promonocyte U937 cells and its two-fold augmentation after cell differentiation with retinoic acid and phorbol ester. Bradykinin and des-Arg(10)-kallidin induced the expression of both B2 and B1 receptors in cells before and after differentiation. Generally, the undifferentiated cells were more susceptible to bradykinin-dependent induction of kinin receptors (increases by approximately 250% and 200% for B2 and B1 receptors, respectively). The induction, by approx. 200%, of B1 receptor by des-Arg(10)-kallidin was detected on both mRNA and protein levels. In addition, an unexpected strong induction of B2 receptor by this compound was observed in the retinoic acid- and phorbol ester-differentiated cells (by 150% and 200%, respectively) that suggests a possible autoregulation of kinin receptors by own agonists during the inflammatory state. On the other hand, a strong enhancement of the expression of both receptors by interleukin 1beta, especially in the phorbol ester-differentiated cells, indicates the involvement of kinin receptors in the propagation of the inflammatory processes.