kinins

Noun

kinin (plural kinins)

1. Any of various structurally related polypeptides of the autacoid family, such as bradykinin and kallikrein, that act locally to induce vasodilation and contraction of smooth muscle.
   • The kinin work comes at a time when "there has not been a whole lot of interest in the common cold," Dr. Couch said, adding that he believed scientists had begun to view cold research as "a hopeless area."1987 October 6, Gina Kolata, “Clever Strategy Shows Promise Against Colds”, in The New York Times