Endothelium-derived Hyperpolarizing Factor Mediates Bradykinin-stimulated Tissue Plasminogen Activator Release in Humans

Aims: Bradykinin (BK) stimulates tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) release from human endothelium. Although BK stimulates both nitric oxide and endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF) release, the role of EDHF in t-PA release remains unexplored. This study sought to determine the mechanisms of BK-stimulated t-PA release in the forearm vasculature of healthy human subjects.

Methods: In 33 healthy subjects (age 40.3 ± 1.9 years), forearm blood flow (FBF) and t-PA release were measured at rest and after intra-arterial infusions of BK (400 ng/min) and sodium nitroprusside (3.2 mg/min). Measurements were repeated after intra-arterial infusion of tetraethylammonium chloride (TEA; 1 µmol/min), fluconazole (0.4 µmol·min(-1)·l(-1)), and N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA, 8 µmol/min) to block nitric oxide, and their combination in separate studies.

Results: BK significantly increased net t-PA release across the forearm (p < 0.0001). Fluconazole attenuated both BK-mediated vasodilation (-23.3 ± 2.7% FBF, p < 0.0001) and t-PA release (from 50.9 ± 9.0 to 21.3 ± 8.9 ng/min/100 ml, p = 0.02). TEA attenuated FBF (-14.7 ± 3.2%, p = 0.002) and abolished BK-stimulated t-PA release (from 22.9 ± 5.7 to -0.8 ± 3.6 ng/min/100 ml, p = 0.0002). L-NMMA attenuated FBF (p < 0.0001), but did not inhibit BK-induced t-PA release (nonsignificant).

Conclusion: BK-stimulated t-PA release is partly due to cytochrome P450-derived epoxides and is inhibited by K(+)Ca channel blockade. Thus, BK stimulates both EDHF-dependent vasodilation and t-PA release.