Nursing Pharmacology Chapter 21:  Histamine

Histamine

• Autacoids is a general term that refers to a number of compounds such as: histamine, serotonin, endogenous peptides, prostaglandins, and leukotrienes

  • The formal definition of autacoids is "self-remedy, referring to the action of local hormones

• Chemistry and Pharmacokinetics

  • The formation of histamine occurs by the removal of a carboxyl group (decarboxylation) from amino acid  L-histidine

  • One of the important issues associated with formation of a biologically active compound is the mechanism that accounts for the compounds inactivation. 

    • Histamine is active biologically, but the first step for its inactivation involves the addition of a methyl group (CH₃) followed by a chemical oxidation.

  • Most of the time very little histamine is excreted unchanged because of these metabolic steps.  One exception would be the case of neoplastic disease (cancer).  For instance, significant histamine is excreted unchanged in the presence of these diseases: (a) systemic mastocytosis, (b) gastric carcinoid syndrome or (c) urticaria pigmentosa.

• Tissue Distribution

  • The primary site for histamine localization is the mast cell granules (or basophils) 

    • Mast cells are important in that they release histamine in response to potential tissue injury

    • Other sites include the central nervous system where histamine may function as a neurotransmitter and the fundus of the stomach (enterochromaffin-like cells) which are major acid secretagogues [They promotes accretion by activation of acid-producing mucosal parietal cells]

• Histamine: Storage and Release

  • Immunologic Release is the most important mechanism for histamine release is in response to an immunological stimulus. 

    • Mast cells, if sensitized by surface IgE antibodies, degranulate when exposed specific antigen.  Degranulation means liberation of the contents of the mast cell granules, including histamine.  Degranulation is involved in the immediate (type I) allergic reaction.

      • Release regulation is present in most mast cells.

    • Histamine Modulation  is associated with the inflammatory responses. 

      • Following local injury, histamine first produces a local vasodilation (reddening of the area) followed by an the release of acute inflammation mediators. 

        • Inflammatory cells are involved in this process and include neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, monocytes & lymphocytes.

  •  Mechanical/Chemical Release

    • A second type of release occurs following chemical or mechanical injury to mast cells.  In these injuries caused degranulation as noted above including again histamine release.  Common drugs such as morphine or tubocurarine can displace histamine from granule storage sites.

• Pharmacodynamics-- Mechanism of Action

  • Histamine mediates its effects by interacting with receptors. 

  • Receptor Types  include  H_1, H_2,and H₃ types. 

• Receptor subtypes --H₁, H₂, and H₃

  • Intracellular G protein interactions

• H₁  receptor localization: endothelial and smooth muscle cells

  • H₁ receptor activation causes can increase in phosphoinositol hydrolysis and an increase in intracellular calcium.

• H₂ receptor localization:  gastric mucosa, cardiac muscle cells, immune cell localization

  • H₂  receptor activation causes an increase in cyclic AMP.

• H₃ receptor localization is primarily presynaptic.

  • Activation causes a decrease in  transmitter release {transmitters: histamine,acetylcholine, norepinephrine, serotonin)

     

     

Organ System Effects: Histamine

• Cardiovascular

  • Systolic and diastolic blood pressure:  Vasodilation of arterioles and precapillary sphincters account for histamine's vasodilating effects.

    • Vasodilation may be due in part to nitric oxide liberation.

  • Following from the reduced blood pressure, the heart rate increases by autonomic reflex mechanisms and by direct action.

    • Both H₁ and H₂ receptors involved in cardiovascular responses.

  • Histamine-associated edema is a  H₁ receptor effect, affecting postcapillary vessels.

    • Increase in vessel permeability due to separation of endothelial cells, allowing transudation of fluid and molecules as large as small proteins.

      • Responsible for urticaria (hives)

      • Endothelial cell separation: secondary to histamine-induced calcium influx causing intracellular actin/myosin-mediated contraction

  • Direct cardiac effects:

    1. Increased contractility (positive inotropism)

    2. Increased pacemaker rate (positive chronotropism)

• Gastrointestinal tract:

  • Histamine promotes intestinal smooth muscle contraction which is an H₁ receptor mediated effect

• Bronchiolar smooth muscle activation by histamine causes bronchoconstriction which is a H₁ receptor mediated effect.

  • Inhaled histamine is a diagnostic, provocative test for bronchial hyperreactivity (asthma or cystic fibrosis)

• Nerve Endings

  • Sensory nerve endings are stimulated by histamine, especially those endings which mediate pain and itching.

  • These effects are H₁ receptor mediated effect and represent part of the local reaction to insect stings (urticarial responses)

• Secretory tissue

  • Histamine cause the stimulation of release by secretory tissues. 

    • For example, a significant increase in gastric acid secretion is caused by histamine. 

      • Other examples of increased release include gastric pepsin.

  • Mechanism of Action:

    • Considering the gastric parietal cells, histamine interacts with H₂ receptors and initiates a second messenger response which proceeds by

      • (1)  Increasing adenylyl cyclase activity which

      • (2)  Results in an increase in the second messenger, cyclic AMP which

      • (3)  Causes an increase in intracellular calcium levels.  The increase in calcium triggers release.  This releasing characteristic of calcium applies broadly in physiology.

• Histamine: Clinical Pharmacology-- uses

  •  Pulmonary Function: histamine aerosol may be used to test for bronchial hyperreactivity.

• Toxicities include

  •  Flushing, hypotension, tachycardia, headache, bronchoconstriction, gastrointestinal disturbances

    •  Should not be given to asthmatics (except with extreme caution in pulmonary function testing)

    •  Should not be given to patients with active ulcer disease or gastrointestinal hemorrhage.

1. Burkhalter, A, Julius, D.J. and Katzung, B. Histamine, Serotonin and the Ergot Alkaloids (Section IV. Drugs with Important Actions on Smooth Muscle), in Basic and Clinical Pharmacology, (Katzung, B. G., ed) Appleton-Lange, 1998, pp 261-286.

2. Friedman, L. S. and Peterson, W.L. Peptic Ulcer and Related Disorders In Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine 14th edition, (Isselbacher, K.J., and Braunwald, E., Wilson, J.D., Martin, J.B., Fauci, A.S. and Kasper, D.L., eds) McGraw-Hill, Inc (Health Professions Division), 1998, pp. 1597-1616.