title: Up-regulation of histidine decarboxylase expression and histamine content in B16F10 murine melanoma cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was conducted to determine if differences in histidine decarboxylase expression and histamine levels exist between B16F10 melanoma cells and non-cancerous Melan-A melanocytes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunofluorescence and western blot analysis were used to detect and compare histidine decarboxylase protein levels. Enzyme-linked immunoassay was used to detect, measure, and compare histamine levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Histidine decarboxylase expression was found to be elevated in the B16F10 cells. Western blot analysis demonstrated levels of histidine decarboxylase protein expression more than twofold higher (p < 0.001) in B16F10 than in Melan-A cells. Histamine levels were 280-fold higher (p < 0.001) in B16F10 (229 ± 15 pg/mg protein) than in Melan-A (0.83 ± 0.03 pg/mg protein) cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results indicate an up-regulated histaminergic system in the B16F10 melanoma cells when compared to non-cancerous melanocytes. This supports the use of B16F10 cells as a model in which to investigate a potential role of the endogenous histaminergic system in regulating malignant cell function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, WV 25704-9388, USA. davis266@marshall.edu
authors.forename: Steven C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Sheena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: J Robert
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.forename: Todd L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: Carl A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Gruetter
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006632:Histamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D006640:Histidine Decarboxylase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D008545:Melanoma / Q000201:enzymology*; D051379:Mice; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D006632:Histamine; D006640:Histidine Decarboxylase