Effect of histamine on human fibroblast in vitro.

The effects of histamine (CAS 51-45-6) on cell growth, collagen synthesis of fibroblasts derived from human foreskin, and on fibroblast-mediated collagen remodelling were studied. The cellmat DNA content was measured 2 days after human fibroblasts were plated at a split ratio of 1:10. Effect of histamine (10(-9)-10(-4) mol/l) on the increase of DNA content was not observed. Fibroblasts at confluence were cultured with histamine only, and with pyrilamine or cimetidine in addition to histamine for 2 h. Type I procollagen C-peptide in the medium was measured by enzyme immunoassay and was corrected by DNA content. Type I collagen synthesis was stimulated by histamine (10(-6)-10(-4) mol/l) and its stimulation was inhibited by cimetidine, but not by pyrilamine. Collagen solution containing fibroblast was incubated until gelation. It was incubated with histamine only, and with pyrilamine or cimetidine in addition to histamine. The gel contraction was stimulated by histamine (10(-4) mol/l) and its stimulation was inhibited by pyrilamine, but not by cimetidine. These facts suggests that histamine stimulates type I collagen synthesis of fibroblast and collagen remodeling via H-2 and H-1 receptors, respectively.