title: Immunomodulatory role of histamine H2 receptor in allergen-specific immunotherapy: a mouse model of allergic rhinitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate the effects of HR2 on allergen-specific immunotherapy in a mouse model of allergic rhinitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  An in vivo study using an animal model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Catholic Research Institutes of Medical Science.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty mice were divided into 5 groups: control, allergic rhinitis (AR), immunotherapy (IT), immunotherapy with HR2 agonist (HI), and immunotherapy with HR2 antagonist (HB). All mice except for the control group were sensitized with ovalbumin (OVA). After 1 week, mice in the IT, HI, and HB groups underwent immunotherapy by intradermal injections of OVA. During immunotherapy, the HI group was injected with HR2 agonist, whereas the HB group was injected with HR2 antagonist. All sensitized mice were challenged with intranasal OVA. After the final challenge, allergic behavior was evaluated. Interleukin (IL)-13, interferon-γ, IL-10, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β levels in nasal lavage fluid (NALF), as well as OVA-specific IgE levels in serum, were measured. The number of eosinophils in lamina propria was evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The levels of serum OVA-specific IgE and IL-13 in NALF were significantly increased in the HB group compared with the IT group (P < .05). Also, the tissue eosinophil counts were higher in the HB group than in the IT group (P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HR2 antagonist impaired OVA-specific immunotherapy in mice. Although confirmation of this preliminary result is needed, these findings suggest that HR2 receptors may have inhibitory effects on immune tolerance. The authors suggest that application of this property could enhance the efficiency of allergen-specific immunotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, the Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji-Hyeon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Byung-Guk
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sung Won
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jin-Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Yong-Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Soo Whan
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D017442:Histamine Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000097:blood; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D017817:Nasal Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D011970:Receptors, Histamine H2 / Q000276:immunology*; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D017442:Histamine Agonists; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D018793:Interleukin-13; D011970:Receptors, Histamine H2; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D010047:Ovalbumin