Expression of the kinin B1 receptor is up-regulated in chronic inflammatory and fibrotic disorders; however, little is known about its role in fibrogenesis. We examined human embryonic lung fibroblasts that constitutively express the B1 receptor and report that engagement of the B1 receptor by des-Arg 10 -kallidin stabilized connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) mRNA, stimulated an increase in ␣1(I) collagen mRNA, and stimulated type I collagen production. These events were not observed in B2 receptor-activated fibroblasts. In addition, B1 receptor activation by des-Arg 10 -kallidin induced a rise in cytosolic Ca 2؉ that is consistent with B1 receptor pharmacology. Our results show that the desArg 10 -kallidin-stimulated increase in ␣1(I) collagen mRNA was time-and dose-dependent, with a peak response observed at 20 h with 100 nM des-Arg 10 -kallidin. The increase in CTGF mRNA was also time-and dosedependent, with a peak response observed at 4 h with 100 nM des-Arg 10 -kallidin. The increase in CTGF mRNA was blocked by the B1 receptor antagonist desArg 10 ,Leu 9 -kallidin. Inhibition of protein synthesis by cycloheximide did not block the des-Arg 10 -kallidin-induced increase in CTGF mRNA. These results suggest that engagement of the kinin B1 receptor contributes to fibrogenesis through increased expression of CTGF.Kinins are involved in the regulation of a variety of physiological and cellular functions, including smooth muscle tone, pain perception, inflammation, and cellular proliferation (1, 2). Molecular biological and pharmacological studies have identified two G-protein-coupled kinin receptors, B1 and B2 (3-5). Activation of the B1 receptor induces cellular and physiological responses that often mimic the responses observed following activation of the B2 receptor. For instance, both receptors activate nuclear factor B in fibroblasts (6), modulate vascular tone (7), and activate phospholipase C in mesangial cells (8). However, receptor-specific physiological responses induced by the kinin receptors are demonstrated in the kinin-mediated bronchoconstriction of asthmatic airways. The B2 receptor agonists bradykinin (BK) 1 and kallidin (Lys-BK) are potent bronchoconstrictors (9), whereas the B1 receptor agonist des-Arg 10 -kallidin does not induce bronchoconstriction (10).The B2 receptor, the classical bradykinin receptor, is widely expressed and binds both BK and kallidin with high affinity. In wound repair, activation of the B2 receptor induces a variety of effects, including increased neutrophil proliferation, stimulation of macrophage spreading, release of histamine from mast cells, synthesis of platelet-activating factor and prostaglandins in endothelial cells, release of tachykinin and acetylcholine from sensory nerve endings, increased microvascular permeability, and fibroblast proliferation (2).Early studies described the B1 receptor as an inducible receptor whose expression is up-regulated following exposure to interleukin-1 or other pro-inflammatory agents (11). A recent study has identified expre...