Histamine downregulates monocyte CCL2 production through the histamine H4 receptor

• Published in: Journal of allergy and clinical immunology Vol. 120; no. 2; pp. 300 - 307
• Main Authors: Dijkstra, Dorothea, MSc, Leurs, Rob, PhD, Chazot, Paul, PhD, Shenton, Fiona C., MSc, Stark, Holger, PhD, Werfel, Thomas, MD, Gutzmer, Ralf, MD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier 01.08.2007; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Allergy and Immunology; Asthma; Biological and medical sciences; Calcium - metabolism; Cells, Cultured; Chemokine CCL2 - antagonists & inhibitors; Chemokine CCL2 - biosynthesis; Chemokine CCL2 - metabolism; Chemotaxis, Leukocyte - physiology; Cytokines; Down-Regulation - physiology; Experiments; Flow cytometry; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Histamine; Histamine - pharmacology; Histamine Agonists - pharmacology; Humans; Imidazoles - pharmacology; Indoles - pharmacology; Interferon-gamma - pharmacology; Lymphocytes; Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 - metabolism; Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 - metabolism; Matrix Metalloproteinase 8 - metabolism; Medical sciences; Methylhistamines - pharmacology; Migration; Monocytes - drug effects; Monocytes - metabolism; Piperazines - pharmacology; Proteins; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled - agonists; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled - metabolism; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled - physiology; Receptors, Histamine - metabolism; Receptors, Histamine - physiology; Receptors, Histamine H4; Sarcoidosis. Granulomatous diseases of unproved etiology. Connective tissue diseases. Elastic tissue diseases. Vasculitis; Studies; Thiourea - analogs & derivatives; Thiourea - pharmacology; Up-Regulation; Germany; Histamine; monocytes; Dendritic cell; MMP; Histamine H 4 receptor; H 4 receptor; Reduced glyceraldehyde-phosphate dehydrogenase; H 4R; CCL2; Matrix metalloproteinase; GAPDH; DC; Immunopathology; Immunology; Monocyte; Biosynthesis; H4 receptor; Monocyte chemoattractant protein 1; Biological receptor
• ISSN: 0091-6749; 1097-6825
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2007.03.024

Background The expression of the recently cloned histamine H4 receptor (H4 R) by leukocytes suggests a role in immunomodulation. Objective The expression and function of the H4 R on human monocytes obtained from peripheral blood was investigated. Methods H4 R expression was studied by using flow cytometry. Effects of H4 R stimulation on Ca2+ mobilization was determined fluorometrically, CCL2 production was determined by means of ELISA, intracellular CCL2 staining was measured with flow cytometry, and CCL2 mRNA was measured by using real-time quantitative LightCycler PCR. The relevance of CCL2 production was determined in chemotaxis transmigration assays. Results H4 R protein was expressed by monocytes and upregulated by IFN-γ. H4 R agonists (clobenpropit and 4-methylhistamine) induce a Ca2+ mobilization in monocytes, which could be blocked with the selective H4 R antagonist JNJ7777120. Furthermore, H4 R agonists downregulated CCL2 protein production. This effect could also be blocked by JNJ7777120. Supernatants of H4 R agonist–stimulated monocytes attracted less monocytes in transmigration assays. The downregulation of CCL2 production was regulated at different levels. First, the synthesis of CCL2 mRNA was significantly decreased. Second, intracellular staining suggested an inhibition of CCL2 secretion after stimulation with H4 R agonists. Conclusion Human monocytes express the H4 R, and its stimulation leads to a Ca2+ influx and an inhibition of CCL2 production, resulting in a reduction of monocyte recruitment. Clinical implications The H4 R could represent an important anti-inflammatory receptor on monocytes and could be an interesting target for drug development.