Kinin system in clinical and experimental rheumatoid inflammation: a short review

The kallikrein, kininogen, kinin and kininase system along with other inflammatory chemical mediators are important components for the initiation and maintenance of clinical and experimental rheumatoid-like inflammatory conditions. Numerous studies carried out in the last few years, however, strongly suggest that the kinin-forming system intervenes in a far wider range of physio-pathological processes than has been considered previously. The authors summarize present knowledge concerning the system and review some of the latest experimental findings and opinions.