title: Role of H1 receptors in histamine-mediated up-regulation of STAT4 phosphorylation.
abstract: 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. C57BL/6 splenocytes were isolated and treated with histamine (10(-4) to 10(-9) M) after activation with either PMA (phorbol 12 myristate 13-acetate) plus ionomycin or IL-12. The phosphorylated STAT4 levels were analyzed by Western Blot Analysis. Unstimulated splenocytes expressed both STAT4 and phosphorylated STAT4. However, phosphorylated STAT4 gradually declined within 24 h. Histamine increased the phosphorylation of STAT4 at lower concentrations (10(-6) to 10(-9) M), and had no effect at higher concentrations (10(-4) and 10(-5) M) after the cells were stimulated with PMA + ionomycin. Histamine did not affect IL-12-induced phosphorylation of STAT4. To characterize the histamine receptor subtypes involved in the up-regulation of STAT4 phosphorylation, various H1, H2 and H3/H4 receptor antagonists and/or agonists were employed. H1 receptor agonist (betahistine), but not H2 receptor agonist (amthamine), induced phosphorylation of STAT4. H1 receptor antagonist (pyrilamine) inhibited histamine-mediated phosphorylation of STAT4. However, H2 receptor antagonist (ranitidine) and H3/H4 receptor antagonist (thioperamide) did not alter this effect. Tyrosine kinase inhibitor (tyrphostin) failed to block histamine-mediated phosphorylation of STAT4. These observations suggest that histamine up-regulated the phosphorylation of STAT4 via H1 receptors, and that the Ca2+-PKC pathway, but not the tyrosine kinase pathway, was involved in this effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Creighton University Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68178, USA.
authors.forename: Zhongfeng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Geetanjali
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kharmate
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.forename: Manzoor M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D006632:Histamine / Q000502:physiology*; D017442:Histamine Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000502:physiology; D015759:Ionomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D011969:Receptors, Histamine H1 / Q000502:physiology*; D050797:STAT4 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D002273:Carcinogens; D017442:Histamine Agonists; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D011969:Receptors, Histamine H1; D050797:STAT4 Transcription Factor; C494091:Stat4 protein, mouse; D018664:Interleukin-12; D015759:Ionomycin; D006632:Histamine; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate