Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The diverse effects of histamine on immune regulation are a result of the differential expression and regulation of 4 histamine receptors. Many of the immediate allergic and inflammatory actions of histamine are mediated via the type 1 receptor (H1R).
OBJECTIVES:

We hypothesized that H1R was involved in the fine-tuning of the initiation of T cell-mediated skin pathology-that is, dermatitis.
METHODS:

The impact of the H1R invalidation on the development of skin inflammation was analyzed in a mouse model of atopic dermatitis.
RESULTS:

We show that H1r(-)/(-) mice developed reduced allergen-specific skin lesions. Lack of H1R expression on dendritic cells (DCs) led to diminished IL-12, upregulated IL-23, and IL-6 production upon allergen stimulation. H1R engagement on dendritic cells was necessary for DC activation and subsequent priming of effector IFN-γ(+)CD8(+) T cells. We demonstrate here that H1R blockade on DCs promotes generation of noneffector IL-17(+)CD8(+) T cells that are unable to initiate the skin inflammation.
CONCLUSION:

Our data identify that histamine signaling through the H1R on DCs is an important early event conditioning the quality of the skin effector immune response.

Copyright © 2011 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.