Histamine as Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Target
Author: Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
Published: 2011/01/31 - Updated: 2026/02/13
Publication Details: Peer-Reviewed, Research, Study, Analysis
Category Topic: Multiple Sclerosis - Related Publications
Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates
Synopsis: This research article presents peer-reviewed findings from the Journal of Leukocyte Biology examining histamine's potential as a therapeutic target for multiple sclerosis. The study provides evidence-based insights from controlled animal models showing how histamine reduces proliferation of myelin-attacking T lymphocytes and decreases interferon-gamma production, both critical factors in MS brain inflammation and demyelination. This information proves valuable for MS patients, caregivers, neurologists, and researchers seeking to understand emerging treatment pathways, as it bridges previously unrecognized connections between allergy-related immune responses and autoimmune conditions. The findings offer hope for developing novel drug therapies for MS and related central nervous system diseases where current treatments remain limited - Disabled World (DW).
Introduction
Histamine May be Possible Drug Target for Multiple Sclerosis
More than allergies: Histamine may be a possible drug target for multiple sclerosis.
If you think histamines are your nemesis during allergy season, here's something that might change your perspective. New research published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology shows that histamine could be an important molecule to developing new treatments for multiple sclerosis (MS). In the study, the scientists analyzed the role of histamine in an animal model of multiple sclerosis and found that histamine plays a critical role in preventing MS or lessening its effects.
"We hope that our study will help design new therapies for autoimmune diseases and in particular MS, for which there is still not a definitive cure," said Rosetta Pedotti, MD, Ph.D., a researcher involved in the work from the Neuroimmunology and Neuromuscular Disorders Unit at the Neurological Institute Foundation Carlo Besta in Milan, Italy.
Main Content
Histamine is a neurotransmitter involved in allergic reactions and other physiological and pathological processes. It is best known for the role it plays in hypersensitivity reactions like allergies, and it generally works by dilating blood vessels and making vessel walls permeable so immune cells can move more easily. Scientists studied the direct effects of histamine and two similar molecules that bind specifically on histamine receptors 1 or 2.
Using a mouse model of MS, researchers generated MS-causing T lymphocytes and then treated these cells with histamine or the two other molecules. The effects of these treatments were evaluated by T cell functions analysis including proliferation, cytokine production, intracellular signaling pathways activation, and adhesion to brain vessels.
Results showed that histamine reduces the proliferation of myelin autoreactive T lymphocytes and the production of interferon-gamma, a crucial cytokine involved in brain inflammation and demyelination. Additionally, histamine reduced the ability of myelin autoreactive T cells to adhere to inflamed brain vessels, a crucial step in the development of MS.
"This research is very exciting for several reasons. First, it points to unexpected connection between pathways involved in autoimmunity and allergy and suggests previously unrecognized connections between these very different types of immune responses. Second, while extending studies in animal models such as these to humans takes substantially more work, these new data point to a potentially novel drug target for MS and possibly other autoimmune or central nervous system diseases," said John Wherry, Ph.D., Deputy Editor of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology.
The Journal of Leukocyte Biology publishes peer-reviewed manuscripts on original investigations focusing on the cellular and molecular biology of leukocytes and on the origins, the developmental biology, biochemistry and functions of granulocytes, lymphocytes, mononuclear phagocytes and other cells involved in host defense and inflammation. The Journal of Leukocyte Biology is published by the Society for Leukocyte Biology.
Details
Marilena Lapilla, Barbara Gallo, Marianna Martinello, Claudio Procaccini, Massimo Costanza, Silvia Musio, Barbara Rossi, Stefano Angiari, Cinthia Farina, Lawrence Steinman, Giuseppe Matarese, Gabriela Constantin, and Rosetta Pedotti. Histamine regulates autoreactive T cell activation and adhesiveness in inflamed brain micro-circulation. J Leukoc Biol February 2011 89:259-267.
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: The implications of this histamine research extend beyond multiple sclerosis alone, suggesting a fundamental shift in how medical science might approach autoimmune disorders. While antihistamines have long been relegated to treating seasonal allergies, this work positions histamine receptor pathways as sophisticated immune modulators worthy of serious pharmaceutical development. For the millions living with MS and related conditions, the study opens a promising avenue where existing knowledge of histamine biology could accelerate drug development timelines. The connection between vascular permeability, T cell adhesion, and inflammatory response provides multiple intervention points that future therapies might exploit, offering renewed optimism for those awaiting more effective treatments beyond current disease-modifying options - Disabled World (DW).Attribution/Source(s): This peer reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology and published on 2011/01/31, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.