Histamine role in malaria

Abstract

Histamine, a biogenic amine derived from the decarboxylation of amino acid histidine by an enzyme histidine decarboxylase. It involves the local immune responses as well as regulating physiological functions. As part of an immune response to foreign pathogen (including malarial parasite infection), histamine is produced by basophils and by mast cells found in nearby connective tissue. Elevation in immune mediators such as IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, NO and histamine have been associated with disease severity in malarial infection. Histamine releasing factor (HRF) is a peptide described in mice and humans, causes the release of histamine from basophils. HRF belongs to a class of protein called translationally controlled tumour protein (TCTP) homologs. Recently a Plasmodium falciparum TCTP is identified. This protein has a high homology to human HRF. The central nervous system signs and symptoms such as drowsiness, coma, multiple seizures, destruction of blood brain barrier etc are supposed to be due to histamine secretion in CNS during Plasmodium falciparum infection. In this chapter we will discuss the pathophysiological effects of histamine in severe malaria infection. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2010.