Histamine and epidermal proliferation.
Histamine is liberated in the inflammatory reaction and has been reported to inhibit epidermal cell division in vitro. This study has investigated the effects of histamine and HI and H2 antagonists on epidermopoiesis in vivo in man. No direct stimulatory effect of histamine was detected for normal epidermis. A combination of HI antagonist (chlorpheniramine) and H2 antagonist (cimetidine) led to further increases in epidermal labelling indices in mitotically stimulated epidermis. The administration of HI antagonist alone led to a decrease in mean epidermal thickness. These data suggest that histamine release is unlikely to play a major role in the hyperplasia of inflammatory dermatoses, but that it may be possible to influence epidermal reactions via the HI and H2 receptors.
D000328:Adult; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects*; D002744:Chlorpheniramine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002927:Cimetidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006632:Histamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology
D002744:Chlorpheniramine; D002927:Cimetidine; D006632:Histamine