A group of enzymes ( e.g., plasma, tissue, pancreatic, urinary, submandibular k.) that can convert kininogen by proteolysis to bradykinin or kallidin; trypsin and plasmin can also effect the conversion; plasma k. activates the Hageman factor and acts on kininogen. Tissue k. is a serine endopeptidase that can generate kallidin from kininogen. SYN: kininogenase, kininogenin.
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kal·li·kre·in .kal-ə-'krē-ən, kə-'lik-rē-ən n a hypotensive protease that liberates kinins from blood plasma proteins and is used therapeutically for vasodilation
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n.
one of a group of enzymes found in the blood and body fluids that act on certain plasma globulins to produce bradykinin and kallidin. See kinin.
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kal·li·kre·in (kal″ĭ-kreґin) any of several serine proteinases that cleave kininogens to form kinins, such as bradykinin and kallidin.Medical dictionary. 2011.