HISTAMINE SUPPRESSION OF LYMPHOCYTE-ACTIVATION

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 39  (3) , 739-745
Abstract
Histamine suppressed [human] lymphocyte transformation induced by the mitogen Con [concanavalin] A. The effect was dose-related and was not blocked by H1 or H2 antagonists. High dose of H2 antagonists (10-3 M) enhanced suppression induced by histamine. Proliferation of T [thymus-derived] cells alone cultured with histamine was suppressed, indicating that histamine can exert its effect directly on T cell proliferation without the requirement for accessory cells. Atopic subjects were more sensitive to histamine-induced suppression than normals. The presence of histamine produced locally during a Type I response may provide a mechanism for preventing proliferation of sensitized T cells which enter the site of antigen stimulation. In the atopic, who already has the immunological machinery to mount cell-mediated immune responses to pollens, this increased histamine sensitivity may be protective in suppressing unwanted delayed hypersensitivity reactions.