Kinins are endogenous vasodilators, through which at least some of the beneficial cardiovascular effect of ACE inhibitors is exerted. In the past 15 years, development of new research tools has contributed to the generation of many genetic, biochemical and clinical data. Here, these new findings are brought together to illustrate the potential for manipulation of the kallikrein–kinin system to ameliorate hypertension and its complications, including cardiac hypertrophy and renal failure.
- Paolo Madeddu
- Costanza Emanueli
- Samir El-Dahr
