In HaCaT keratinocytes bradykinin-triggered actin reorganization was inhibited by quinacrine, a phospholipase A(2) inhibitor, and restored by addition of arachidonic acid, Bradykinin-induced actin breakdown and cortical actin formation were respectively prevented by indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, and nordihydroguaiaretic acid, a lipoxygenase inhibitor. Addition of prostaglandins or leukotrienes, respectively, reversed the effects of inhibitors. This suggested a crucial role for a cyclooxygenase product in actin depolymerization and for a lipoxygenase product in cortical actin formation. Furthermore, we found that bradykinin stimulated HaCaT keratinocyte migration. This event was block;ed by quinacrine, indomethacin or nordihydroguaiaretic acid, and restored by addition of prostaglandins or leukotrienes, respectively. We also showed that genistein, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, inhibited HaCaT cell locomotion. In conclusion, bradykinin modulated actin reorganization and cell motility in keratinocytes, probably by a mechanism involving arachidonic acid metabolites and a tyrosine kinase activity. (C) 1997 Academic Press.