Modulation of kinin responses in human synovium by interleukin-1.

Bradykinin (BK) is a weak stimulus for prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) release in untreated human synovial cells, but a potent stimulus in interleukin-1 (IL-1) pretreated cells. The mechanism(s) by which IL-1 induces responsiveness of synovial cells to BK appears to be multifactorial. IL-1 not only upregulates the number of kinin receptors on these cells, but may also upregulate a calcium-dependent process involved in the synthesis of prostaglandins.