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Histaminergic Regulation of NK‐Cells: Protection Against Monocyte‐Induced Apoptosis
Author(s) -
HANSSON M.,
ASEA A.,
HERMODSSON S.,
HELLSTRAND K.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.934
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1365-3083
pISSN - 0300-9475
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-3083.1996.d01-291.x
Subject(s) - histaminergic , apoptosis , monocyte , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , immunology , biology , pharmacology , histamine , biochemistry
Human natural killer (NK) cells (with CD3 − /56 + phenotype) acquired features characteristic of apoptosis after incubation with autologous monocytes, as revealed by apoptotic nuclear morphology and degradation of DNA into oligonucleosomal fragments. The monocyte‐induced apoptosis in NK‐cells was prevented by the biogenic amine histamine at concentrations exceeding 0.1 μ M . The protective effect of histamine was blocked by the H 2 ‐receptor (H 2 R) antagonist ranitidine but not by AH202399 A, a chemical control to ranitidine devoid of H 2 R affinity. It is concluded that histaminergic mechanisms may serve to protect NK cells from damage inflicted by products of the oxidative metabolism of monocytes.