Publication details
The effects of histamine and 4-methyl-histamine on the oxidative burst of human leukocytes
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2012 |
| Type | Conference abstract |
| Citation | |
| Description | Histamine plays an important role in immune system disorders and allergies. Since studies about the relation of the newly discovered histamine H4 receptor with functional properties of phagocytes and phagocyte-derived reactive oxygen species generation are very rare, we focused on evaluating histamine effects on functional activity of human leukocytes and on antioxidant properties of histamine. Heparinized blood from healthy human volunteers was obtained by antecubital venipuncture. Total leukocytes including polymorphonuclear leukocytes were isolated and their ability to produce reactive oxygen species after histamine or its H4 receptor agonist 4-methylhistamine treatment was tested by luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence analysis. Antioxidant properties of histamine and 4-methylhistamine were measured by luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence and fluorescence analyses. Histamine and 4-methylhistamine increased the spontaneous oxidative burst in whole blood phagocytes. Similarly, both compounds increased the oxidative burst of whole blood phagocytes activated by opsonized zymosan particles or phorbol myristate acetate. On the other hand, neither of the compounds affected the oxidative burst in activated isolated leukocytes. The spontaneous oxidative burst of isolated leukocytes was even decreased by both compounds. Our results confirmed that neither histamine nor 4-methylhistamine did have any antioxidant potential against reactive oxygen species. It can be concluded that histamine interacted with immune system cells, especially with phagocytes. The increase in local concentrations of histamine could augment phagocyte-derived oxidative stress. H4 receptors could at least partially play a role in this phenomenon. |