Bradykinin and Related Kinins:Cardiovascular, Biochemical and Neural Actions

At the turn of the present century, researchers recognized that damaged tissue released chemical agents capable of causing catastrophic effects on the whole organism upon entering the blood stream. Following the discovery of histamine, these agents at first seemed identifiable with biogenic amines. However, very soon after the development of highly selective antagonists, little responsibility was ascribed to the amines, and the tissue factors were wrapped once again in mystery. One can imagine perhaps and envy the fascinating moments experienced by the pioneers in the kinin field when they realized that plasma had an enormous store of principles endowed with biologic activity, practically indistinguishable from histamine, possessing a complex turnover and regulated by obscure biochemical mechanisms. Like other biochemical eras, the era of the kinins was opened by a pioneer stage exceptionally long and exciting.

After years of arduous isolation, researchers realized that kinins may not only be the key to unlocking the mystery of histamine-like substances, but also may open the way to understanding other basic problems in pathology possibly associated with tissue factors. The Symposium held at Fiesole could be regarded as a balance sheet, representing the climax of the initial revolutionary stage and the beginning of the evolution stage. Research is all the more successful if supported by its development and application of kinins to pathology with hesitation and apprehension, even with diffidence, but then, with ever increasing enthusiasm and persuasion, identified those areas of human pathology in which pathogenetic implications of the system are, to say the least, attractive. Perhaps the most interesting characteristic of the Fiesole Symposium really was the "grafting" of the human "kinin" stage onto the biological and experimental stages.

Thus, new light is shed on basic problems involving the pathology of man as shock, angioneurotic edema, uratic arthritis, intracranial hemorrhage, and acute local and general reactions to thermal, mechanical and infectious assaults. It is with a certain degree of emotion that we now reconsider those terms and phenomena we were accustomed to seeing only from a cold biochemical point of view, such as the Hageman factor, the kallikrein inhibitor, and the permeability factor, under the warm light shed by the sufferings of man. This warmth, typical of human investigation, homogenized by the severity of experimental research, has contributed in making the scientific sessions more lively, and, above all, in creating the spontaneous and friendly atmosphere prevailing at Fiesole.

A further contribution was the striking contrast, as harmonious as a musical counterpoint, afforded by the amazing science-fiction like adventure in space, which ended happily during the Symposium, and the stern walls of Castel di Poggio at Fiesole and the supremely serene beauty of the Etruscan landscape. The sociability and friendliness of all the participants helped to overcome technical difficulties encountered during the Symposium. Members of the Organizing Committee, in particular Professors Rocha e Silva, Giotti, Keele, Armstrong, Back, - and Secretaries Franchi, Fanciullacci, and Siddel, all helped generously. Valuable support, both moral and material, was offered by the Ministero della Sanita, by the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, by the young but energetic Societa Italiana di Famacologia Clinica, and by the Brazilian Society of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. The Fiesole Town Council and the Mayor, Mr.

Adriano Latini, offered their warm and friendly hospitality, even placing Castel di Poggio at our disposal. The technical manager, Dr. Buongiorno, informally and skillfully overcame all difficulties and met all emergencies, thus attaining the success of the Symposium similar to that held in Florence in 1965.