Aggravated myocardial infarction-induced cardiac remodeling and heart failure in histamine-deficient mice

Sci Rep. 2017 Mar 8:7:44007. doi: 10.1038/srep44007.

Abstract

Histamine has pleiotropic pathophysiological effects, but its role in myocardial infarction (MI)-induced cardiac remodeling remains unclear. Histidine decarboxylase (HDC) is the main enzyme involved in histamine production. Here, we clarified the roles of HDC-expressing cells and histamine in heart failure post-MI using HDC-EGFP transgenic mice and HDC-knockout (HDC-/-) mice. HDC+CD11b+ myeloid cell numbers markedly increased in the injured hearts, and histamine levels were up-regulated in the circulation post-MI. HDC-/- mice exhibited more adverse cardiac remodeling, poorer left ventricular function and higher mortality by increasing cardiac fibrogenesis post-MI. In vitro assays further confirmed that histamine inhibited heart fibroblast proliferation. Furthermore, histamine enhanced the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)-6 phosphorylation level in murine heart fibroblasts, and the inhibitive effects of histamine on fibroblast proliferation could be blocked by JAK3/STAT6 signaling selective antagonist. STAT6-knockout (STAT6-/-) mice had a phenotype similar to that of HDC-/- mice post-MI; however, in contrast to HDC-/- mice, the beneficial effects of exogenous histamine injections were abrogated in STAT6-/- mice. These data suggest that histamine exerts protective effects by modulating cardiac fibrosis and remodeling post-MI, in part through the STAT6-dependent signaling pathway.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Fibroblasts / cytology
  • Fibroblasts / drug effects
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism
  • Heart Failure / etiology
  • Heart Failure / metabolism
  • Heart Failure / pathology*
  • Histamine / blood
  • Histamine / metabolism*
  • Histamine / pharmacology
  • Histidine Decarboxylase / deficiency
  • Histidine Decarboxylase / genetics
  • Humans
  • Janus Kinase 3 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Janus Kinase 3 / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Myeloid Cells / cytology
  • Myeloid Cells / metabolism
  • Myocardial Infarction / metabolism
  • Myocardial Infarction / pathology*
  • Myocardial Infarction / veterinary
  • Myocardium / cytology
  • Myocardium / pathology
  • Phosphorylation
  • Receptors, Histamine / metabolism
  • STAT6 Transcription Factor / antagonists & inhibitors
  • STAT6 Transcription Factor / genetics
  • STAT6 Transcription Factor / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Ventricular Remodeling / physiology*

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Receptors, Histamine
  • STAT6 Transcription Factor
  • STAT6 protein, human
  • Histamine
  • Jak3 protein, mouse
  • Janus Kinase 3
  • Histidine Decarboxylase