Coupling of bradykinin receptors to phospholipase C in cultured fibroblasts is mediated by a G-protein.

In cultured foreskin fibroblasts, bradykinin stimulates inositol phosphate generation, arachidonic acid release, and Na+/H+ exchange, with doses of 1-3 nM yielding half-maximal stimulation. Binding of 3H-bradykinin to these cells demonstrates a single receptor site with a Kd of 2.0 nM and a Bmax of 91 fmoles/mg protein. Bradykinin analogs of the B2 type inhibit this binding. GTP synergizes with bradykinin to stimulate phosphatidylinositol turnover in permeabilized fibroblasts and GTP-gamma-S decreases the Bmax of bradykinin binding to fibroblast membranes, indicating that a G-protein couples the receptor to phospholipase C. Pretreatment of fibroblasts with either cholera or pertussis toxin enhances bradykinin stimulation of inositol phosphate accumulation.