Histamine via the histamine H₂-receptor reduces α-CD3-induced interferon-γ synthesis in murine CD4+ T cells in an indirect manner

J Interferon Cytokine Res. 2012 Apr;32(4):185-90. doi: 10.1089/jir.2011.0082. Epub 2012 Jan 26.

Abstract

Histamine is involved in the execution of an immune reaction. Receptors for histamine, of which four different subtypes are known so far, are found on dendritic cells and on T cells. Via these receptors, histamine either indirectly or directly affects the activation of T cells. Data in the literature regarding the involved receptor subtypes and the mode of action of histamine on T cells are somewhat contradictory and depend on the type of cells analyzed, polarized T cells, or freshly prepared T cells within the context of the whole splenocyte population. Therefore, we analyzed the effect of histamine on murine T cells within splenocytes in a detailed manner. We stimulated freshly prepared splenocytes in the presence or absence of histamine with α-CD3 in vitro and analyzed the induced cytokine production. We show that histamine reduced the α-CD3-induced interferon-γ (IFN-γ) production of CD4⁺ cells via the histamine H₂-receptor. Moreover, the effect of histamine on the α-CD3-induced IFN-γ production could be transferred within conditioned splenocyte supernatants induced by histamine (in the absence of α-CD3). Thus, the histamine effect is mediated by a soluble factor, which, however, is neither of the classical anti-inflammatory mediators, interleukin-10, or transforming growth factor-β.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CD3 Complex / metabolism*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / drug effects*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism*
  • Culture Media, Conditioned / pharmacology
  • Female
  • Histamine / pharmacology*
  • Interferon-gamma / biosynthesis*
  • Interleukin-10 / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Receptors, Histamine H2 / metabolism*
  • Spleen / cytology
  • Spleen / drug effects
  • Spleen / metabolism
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / metabolism

Substances

  • CD3 Complex
  • Culture Media, Conditioned
  • Receptors, Histamine H2
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • Interleukin-10
  • Histamine
  • Interferon-gamma