Upregulation of histidine decarboxylase mRNA expression in scleroderma skin

• Published in: Archives of Dermatological Research 2001-04, Vol.293 (4), p.171-177
• Main Authors: OHTSUKA, Tsutomu, OHTAKE, Hideki, MATSUZAKI, Shigeru, ICHIMURA, Kaoru, ICHIKAWA, Atsushi, YAMAKAGE, Akio, YAMAZAKI, Soji
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Blotting, Northern; Female; Gene Expression; Histamine; Histamine - metabolism; Histidine; Histidine decarboxylase; Histidine Decarboxylase - genetics; Humans; Hybridization; In Situ Hybridization; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Osmolar Concentration; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Sarcoidosis. Granulomatous diseases of unproved etiology. Connective tissue diseases. Elastic tissue diseases. Vasculitis; Scleroderma; Scleroderma, Systemic - metabolism; Scleroderma, Systemic - physiopathology; Skin; Skin - metabolism; Systemic sclerosis; Tissue Distribution; Up-Regulation
• ISSN: 0340-3696; 1432-069X
• DOI: 10.1007/s004030100206

The involvement of histamine in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (SSc) has been suggested. Possible involvement of histamine and histidine decarboxylase (HDC), the synthesizing enzyme for histamine, in the formation of the skin abnormalities in SSc was studied. Skin histamine concentrations in SSc were significantly lower than in normal controls (P < 0.02). In situ hybridization with an HDC probe revealed that the expression of the HDC gene in SSc was greater than in normal controls. The number of cells and the mean grain number per cell expressing HDC mRNA were both significantly greater in SSc than in normal controls (both P < 0.01). These results show a reduction in histamine concentration and an elevated HDC gene expression in SSc skin, indicating an increase in both histamine release and HDC gene expression. The upregulation of histamine turnover appears to be involved in the formation of the skin abnormalities of SSc.