The Kallikrein-Kinin System in Cardiac Surgery

Overview

We aimed to established an interlink among the kallikrein-kinin system (KKS), endothelial dysfunction and cardiac inflammation in response to cardiosurgery , using clinic investigation.

The KKS, which is located on the vascular endothelium, plays a pivotal role in maintaining cardiovascular homeostasis. Tissue kallikrein (TK), a serine protease and a key enzyme of the KKS, is responsible for cleaving low-molecular-weight kininogen into bradykinin and kallidin. Under normal physiological conditions, the activation of the B2 receptor (B2R)/endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) signaling pathway leads to the transient release of nitric oxide (NO), resulting in cardiovascular protection. However, during reperfusion injury, the activation of the B1 receptor (B1R)/inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) pathway leads to excessive NO production, promoting inflammation and cellular injury. Therefore, it is hypothesized that the KKS plays a critical role in the early stages of reperfusion injury during cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.

Conditions

Eligibility

Locations (1)

Outcomes