Potentiation of bradykinin actions by ACE inhibitors

Angiotensin I-converting enzyme kininase II; ACE inhibitors, antibodies to ACE and slowly cleaved substrates of ACE potentiate the effect of bradykinin and its analogs on their B-2, receptors independently of blocking peptide metabolism. ACE inhibitors also resensitized the receptors desensitized by the ligand (tachyphylaxis). The studies were performed on isolated organs and cells co-transfected with the receptor and the enzyme or constitutively expressing them. This enhancement of the effect of B-2, ligands is attributed to a crosstalk between the enzyme and the receptor and not to a direct action on the receptors. It might reflect some of the local activities of ACE inhibitors.