Attenuation of Th1 effector cell responses and susceptibility to experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in histamine H2 receptor knockout mice is due to dysregulation of cytokine production by antigen-presenting cells.
Histamine, a biogenic amine with both neurotransmitter and vasoactive properties, is well recognized as an immunomodulatory agent in allergic and inflammatory reactions. It also plays a regulatory role in the development of antigen-specific immune responses. CD4+ T-cells from histamine H1 receptor (H1R)-deficient (H1RKO) mice produce significantly less interferon-gamma and more interleukin (IL)-4 in in vitro recall assays compared to wild-type controls. H1RKO mice are also less susceptible to acute early-phase experimental allergic encephalomyelitis indicating that H1R signaling in CD4+ T cells plays a central role in regulating pathogenic T-cell responses. In this study, we show that mice lacking histamine H2 receptor (H2RKO) are similar to H1RKO mice in that they develop encephalitogen-specific T-cell responses as assessed by proliferation and IL-2 production and present with less severe acute early-phase experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. However, unlike T cells from H1RKO mice, which exhibit a strong Th2 bias, T cells from H2RKO mice do not. Rather, they are uniquely characterized by a significant inhibition of Th1 effector cell responses. Given that both histamine and adjuvants such as pertussis toxin modulate antigen-presenting cell (APC) maturation and function, including T-cell-polarizing activity, we analyzed the cytokines/chemokines secreted by APCs from wild-type, H1RKO, and H2RKO mice. Significant differences in cytokine/chemokine production by APCs from unimmunized and immunized mice were delineated. APCs from H2RKO mice produce significantly less IL-12 and IL-6 and markedly greater amounts of MCP-1 compared to wild-type and H1RKO mice. Because MCP-1 is known to inhibit IL-12 production, the failure of H2RKO mice to generate encephalitogenic Th1 effector cell responses is consistent with inhibition of negative regulation of MCP-1 secretion by H2R signaling in APCs.
Teuscher
Cory
C
Department of Medicine, University of Vermont School of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont 05405, USA. C.Teuscher@uvm.edu
Poynter
Matthew E
ME
Offner
Halina
H
Zamora
Alex
A
Watanabe
Takeshi
T
Fillmore
Parley D
PD
Zachary
James F
JF
Blankenhorn
Elizabeth P
EP
D000818:Animals; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility / Q000276:immunology; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015870:Gene Expression; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D011970:Receptors, Histamine H2 / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
D016207:Cytokines; D011970:Receptors, Histamine H2