Mice lacking histidine decarboxylase exhibit abnormal mast cells

Abstract

Histidine decarboxylase (HDC) synthesizes histamine from histidine in mammals. To evaluate the role of histamine, we generated HDC-deficient mice using a gene targeting method. The mice showed a histamine deficiency and lacked histamine-synthesizing activity from histidine. These HDC-deficient mice are viable and fertile but exhibit a decrease in the numbers of mast cells while the remaining mast cells show an altered morphology and reduced granular content. The amounts of mast cell granular proteases were tremendously reduced. The HDC-deficient mice provide a unique and promising model for studying the role of histamine in a broad range of normal and disease processes. (C) 2001 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Keywords

mast cell; rodent; knockout; histamine

Published in

FEBS Letters
2001, volume: 502, number: 1-2, pages: 53-56
Publisher: ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

SLU Authors

• Pejler, Gunnar

  • Department of Veterinary Medical Chemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Tchougounova, Elena

  • Department of Veterinary Medical Chemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Associated SLU-program

Future Animal Health and Welfare (until Jan 2017)

UKÄ Subject classification

Immunology

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0014-5793(01)02663-1

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/66601