Involvement of histamine receptors in SAPK/JNK phosphorylation.

Histamine is a mediator of inflammation in allergic disease and asthma. Stress activated protein kinases/c-jun N-terminal kinases (SAPK/JNK) are involved in asthma. This study examined the role of histamine receptors on the phosphorylation of SAPK/JNK in splenocytes.

Regulation of ERK2 phosphorylation by histamine in splenocytes.

Histamine is implicated in allergic disease and asthma and ERK1/2 is involved in allergic inflammation including Th2 differentiation and proliferation. This study was designed to study the effects of histamine on ERK1/2 phosphorylation in splenocytes. C57/BL6 splenocytes were treated with different concentrations of histamine (10(-4) to 10(-11) M).

Histamine affects STAT6 phosphorylation via its effects on IL-4 secretion: role of H1 receptors in the regulation of IL-4 production.

Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (STAT)-6 is a transcriptional factor activated mainly through the cytokines IL-4 and IL-13 leading to the Th2 cell differentiation. Th2 cells play a role in the etiology and pathogenesis of allergic disease. Histamine alters the Th1/Th2 cytokine balance towards the Th2 cytokine profile and consequently plays a role in allergic diseases and asthma.

Role of H1 receptors in histamine-mediated up-regulation of STAT4 phosphorylation.

Histamine shifts TH1/TH2 cytokine balance from TH1 to TH2 cytokines and regulates the function of lymphocytes after binding to histamine receptors. The phosphorylation of STAT factors and the translocation to the nucleus are important steps in the regulation of TH1/TH2 cytokine balance. This study was designed to investigate the effects of histamine on the phosphorylation of STAT4.

Involvement of histamine H1 and H2 receptors in the regulation of STAT-1 phosphorylation: inverse agonism exhibited by the receptor antagonists.

Signal transducer and activator of transcription-1 (STAT1) is a latent signal transducer protein which, on phosphorylation, is translocated from the cytoplasm to the nucleus and is subsequently activated. This study was designed to determine the involvement of histamine receptors in histamine-mediated effect on STAT1 phosphorylation. It is known that the actions of histamine mediated through H1 and H2 receptors are dependent on their respective downstream pathways, Ca(2+)-PKC and cAMP-PKA.

Effects of histamine on Th1/Th2 cytokine balance.

Atopic asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways where upon exposure to allergens, the body mounts an immune response. This disease is associated with an increase in the number of Th2 (T helper type 2) cells and Th2 cytokines and a decrease in the number of Th1 (T helper type 1) cells and Th1 cytokines. Histamine plays an important role in the pathogenesis of atopic asthma through differential regulation of T helper lymphocytes.