Tissue Kallikreins and Kinins: Roles in Human Disease and Target for New Drug Development

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to survey briefly what is known about tissue kallikreins and kinins which leads toward the conclusion that these enzymes and their peptide products have significant, even causal roles in human diseases, and are a clear target system for the development of new drugs. At the very least, the discovery and pharmacological evaluation of new substances of matter which affect components of tissue kallikrein-regulated systems will allow us to learn more of what we need to know to understand the functional responsibilities of these proteins and peptides. More likely, drugs which inhibit, modulate or perhaps mimic the activities of system components will find a place in rational therapeutics.