Bradykinin potentiating factor

Ferreira s interest in the physiology of bradykinin led him in the early 1960s to search for substances that would inhibit its in vivo inactivation. The venom of the Brazilian arrowhead viper Bothrops jararaca generates bradykinin in plasma, and Ferreira discovered that the venom itself contained substances capable of potentiating bradykinin-induced contractions of isolated guinea pig ileum. He and Rocha e Silva called the active fraction of this venom the bradykinin-potentiating factor (BPF) (75). 

Ferreira, S. H. A bradykinin-potentiating factor (BPF) present in the venom of Bothrops jararaca. Br. J. Pharmacol. Chemother. 1965,24, 163-169. 

Ahmed, O.G., 2012. Immune modulating effects of malathion with the role of bradykinin potentiating factor in juvenile male rats. Ibnosina J. Med. Biomed. 

The inhibitor is also called bradykinin-potentiating factor because it enhances the hypotensive activity of bradykinin (Fig. 9). 

Stimulation of free nerve endings known as nociceptors is the first step leading to the sensation of pain. These receptors are found in both somatic and visceral structures and are activated by mechanical, thermal, and chemical factors. Release of bradykinins, K1, prostaglandins, histamine, leukotrienes, serotonin, and substance P may sensitize and/or activate nociceptors. Receptor activation leads to action potentials that are transmitted along afferent nerve fibers to the spinal cord. 

Fig. 1 Transient receptor potential vaniUoid 1 (TRPVl) and other transient receptor potential channels expressed in primary sensory neurons and their regulation by inflammatory mediators and exogenous or putative endogenous ligands, NFG nerve growth factor, PAR protease activated receptor 2, B2 bradykinin B2 receptor, ASIC acid-sensing ion channel, EPl/2 prostanoid E receptor...

Christian EP, Togo J, Naper KE (1994) Guinea pig visceral C-flber neurons are diverse with respect to the K-t currents involved in action-potential repolaiization. J Neurophysiol 71 561-574 Chuang Hh, Prescott ED, Kong H, Shields S, Jordt SE, Basbaum AI, Chao MV, Julius D (2001) Bradykinin and nerve growth factor release the capsaicin receptor from Ptdlns(4,5)P2-mediated inhibition. Nature 411 957-962... 

Amrani Y, Martinet N, Bronner C. Potentiation by tumour necrosis factor-alpha of calcium signals induced by bradykinin and carbachol in human tracheal smooth musele eells. Br J Pharmaeol 1995 114 4-5. 

---