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The lack of kinin formation in systemic circulation and in the renal system may lead to the pathogenesis of high blood pressure (hypertension). Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors are able to protect the kinin inactivation by kininase II, therefore, causing an accumulation of kinin. Although the concentrations of kinin in plasma after oral administration of {ACE} inhibitors are conflicting this is mainly due to methodological difficulties. Kinin receptor antagonists are becoming most reliable pharmacological probes for defining the molecular actions of kinin in several physiopathological states, and in the mechanism of actions of drugs which are dependent on the kinin system. The blood pressure lowering effect of {ACE} inhibitors can be antagonized by the pretreatment with kinin receptor antagonists. I have therefore proposed that the hypotensive action of {ACE} inhibitors may reflect the activation of kinin receptor. It is suggested that the development of compounds having protective properties on the kallikrein-kinin system might be therapeutically applicable as anti-hypertensive drugs.
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