Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity of the bradykinin antagonist, icatibant (Hoe 140), against an extract from Porphyromonas gingivalis.

1. Porphyromonas gingivalis is one of the bacteria likely to be related to pain in periodontitis. Several enzymes isolated from P. gingivalis have been reported to have kininogenase activity. Since kinin release could be held responsible for inflammatory symptoms and pain in periodontitis, we investigated whether the inflammatory and algesic effects of a sonic extract from P. gingivalis (PGSE) could be inhibited by the potent bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist, icatibant (Hoe 140). 2. In anaesthetized rats, the subplantar injection of PGSE (0.1 and 1.0 mg) caused a dose-dependent oedema of the hind paws. The net increase of the paw volume 60 min after the injection was 23 +/- 5% and 77 +/- 12%, respectively. The oedema was rich in plasma proteins as determined by the Evans blue method. Pretreatment with icatibant (300 nmol kg-1, s.c.) significantly reduced the effect of 1.0 mg of PGSE whereas the effects of 0.1 mg of PGSE remained unaffected. 3. The subplantar injection of 1.0 mg of PGSE in unanaesthetized rats caused nociceptive behavioural responses which started about 5 min after the injection and lasted for about 10-15 min. These responses were completely prevented by pretreatment with icatibant (300 nmol kg-1, s.c.). 4. The present results show that the plasma extravasation induced by non-algesic doses of a sonic extract from P. gingivalis are caused by mechanisms other than B2 kinin receptor activation whereas inflammatory effects of algesic doses are due to the action of kinins. The pain elicited by the extract is solely mediated by kinins and can be prevented by icatibant. The bradykinin antagonist could thus have a potential for a clinical use against pain associated with periodontal inflammation.