What is the primary function of bradykinins during inflammation?

The primary function of bradykinins during inflammation is to stimulate pain, which is closely linked to their action of loosening tight junctions in the vascular endothelium. This loosening causes increased vascular permeability, allowing plasma proteins and immune cells to exit the bloodstream and enter the tissues where they are needed for an inflammatory response.

As bradykinins promote increased permeability, they contribute to the swelling that characterizes inflammation. This swelling, along with the stimulation of nerve endings that produce pain sensations, helps to alert the body to potential injury or infection. While bradykinins do indeed interact with nerve endings to induce pain, the primary mechanism through which they facilitate the inflammatory process involves the modulation of tight junctions in blood vessels. Thus, their role is primarily about enabling the movement of immune components to the site of inflammation, which supports healing and defense mechanisms.

The other choices do not capture the primary function of bradykinins in the context of inflammation. Increasing blood pressure is typically associated with other mediators. Binding to mast cells is more relevant to the functions of other inflammatory mediators like histamines. Stimulating nerve endings is part of the bradykinins' role, but it is secondary to their influence on vascular permeability and tissue