Central Histamine H3 Receptor Signaling Negatively Regulates Autoimmune Inflammation (129.31)

Abstract

Abstract Histamine is a ubiquitous regulator of diverse physiologic processes including inflammation, immune modulation and neurotransmission. Four subtypes of histamine receptors are currently recognized and genetic and pharmacological studies have shown that the H1 and H2 receptors play a role in susceptibility to experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), the primary autoimmune model of multiple sclerosis. Histamine H3 receptor (H3R), which is not expressed in hematopoietic cells, is a presynaptic auto- and hetero-receptor. Here we show that H3RKO mice develop significantly more severe acute phase clinical disease and neuropathology compared to wild-type controls. In H3RKO mice this is preceded by disruption of the blood brain barrier and increased chemokine/chemokine receptor expression in peripheral T-cells. These data are consistent with inhibition of H3R-mediated neurogenic control of cerebrovascular tone and T-cell function. Additionally, genetic studies indicate that an H3R polymorphism leading to differential expression of H3R isoforms underlies eae8, a locus controlling disease associated weight loss, a phenotype known to be regulated by central H3R activity.