In diabetes, mesangial cell proliferation and extracellular matrix expansion are critical components in the development of glomerulosclerosis. We reported that diabetes alters the activity of the kallikrein-kinin system and that these alterations contribute to the development of diabetic nephropathy. The present study examined the influence of streptozotocin-induced diabetes on the renal expression of bradykinin (BK) B2 receptors (B2KR), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), and TGF-beta type II receptor (TGF-betaRII) and assessed the signaling mechanisms through which B2KR activation may promote glomerular injury. Eight weeks after the induction of diabetes, renal mRNA levels of B2KR, CTGF, and TGF-beta as well as protein levels of CTGF and TGF-betaRII were measured in control (C), diabetic (D), and insulin-treated diabetic (D+I) rats. Renal B2KR and TGF-beta mRNA levels expressed relative to beta-actin mRNA levels and CTGF and TGF-betaRII protein levels were significantly increased in D and D+I rats compared with C rats (P < 0.03, n = 5). To assess the contribution of B2KR activation on modulating the expression of CTGF, TGF-betaRII, and collagen I, mesangial cells (MC) were treated with BK (10(-8) M) for 24 h and CTGF and TGF-betaRII protein levels were measured by Western blots and collagen I mRNA levels were measured by RT-PCR. A two- to threefold increase in CTGF and TGF-betaRII protein levels was observed in response to BK stimulation (P < 0.001, n = 6). In addition, a marked increase in collagen I mRNA levels was observed in response to BK stimulation. Treatment of MC with BK (10(-8) M) for 5 min significantly increased the tyrosine phosphorylation of p60src kinase and of p42/p44 MAPK (P < 0.05, n = 4). Inhibition of src kinase by PP1 (10 microM) inhibited the increase in p42/p44 MAPK activation in response to BK. Finally, to determine whether BK stimulates CTGF, TGF-betaRII, and collagen I expression via activation of MAPK pathways, MC were pretreated with an inhibitor of p42/p44 MAPK (PD-98059) for 45 min, followed by BK (10(-8) M) stimulation for 24 h. Selective inhibition of p42/p44 MAPK significantly inhibited the BK-induced increase in CTGF, TGF-betaRII, and collagen I levels. These findings are the first to demonstrate that BK regulates the expression of CTGF, TGF-betaRII, and collagen I in MC and provide a mechanistic pathway through which B2KR activation may contribute to the development of diabetic nephropathy.