layperson science lesson Mon 2 June

[Gabes-Apg]

Todays layperson science lesson, probably nothing new for the scientists/researchers amongst the group

Cells, protein and histamine......
[very very interesting given various recent discussions]

From: The biology of belief – pg 106 How the mind controls the body

The endothelial cells I grew in culture monitor their world closely and change their behaviour based on information they pick up from the environment. When I provided nutrients, the cells would gravitate toward those nutrients with the cellular equivalent of open arms. When I created a toxic environment, the cultured cells would retreat from the stimulus in an effort to wall themselves off from the noxious agents. My research focussed on the membrane perception switches that controlled the shift from one behaviour to the other.

The primary switch I was studying has a protein receptor that responds to histamine, a molecule that the body uses in a way that is equivalent to a local emergency alarm. There are two varieties of switches, H1 and H2, that respond to the same histamine signal.
When activated, switches with H1 receptors evoke a protection response, the type of behaviour revealed by cells in toxin-containing culture dishes. Switches containing H2 histamine receptors evoke a growth response to histamine, similar to the behaviour of cells cultured in the presence of nutrients

I subsequently learned that the body’s system wide emergency response signal, adrenaline, also has switches supporting two different adrenaline sensing receptors, called alpha and beta. The adrenaline receptors provoked the exact same cell behaviours as those elicited by histamine. When adrenal Alpha receptor is part of an IMP switch, it provokes a protection response when adrenaline is perceived

When the beta receptor is part of the switch, the same adrenaline signal activates a growth response (Ref: Lipton, et al 1992)
All that was interesting, but the most exciting finding was when I simultaneously introduced both histamine and adrenaline into my tissue cultures, I found that the adrenaline signals, released by the central nervous system, override the influence of histamine signals that are produced locally.
The biology in our cells, requires the cells to follow instructions from the Head Huncho nervous system, even if those signals are in conflict with local stimuli.
I was excited by my experiements because I believed that they revealed on a single cell level of truth for multicellular organisms, that the mind (acting via the central nervous system’s adrenaline) overrides the body (acting via the local histamine signal)

[Tex – you will like this bit].... I wanted to spell out the implications of my experiments in my research paper, but my colleagues almost died from apoplexy at the notion of injecting the body-mind connection into a paper about cell biology. My colleagues did not want me to include these implications of my research because the mind is not an acceptable biological concept.
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Gabes interpretation – (happy to be corrected if I am wrong or twisting things)
Taking Antihistamines abates the symptoms, it is not dealing with the root cause. (for those taking both H1 and H2 regularly, we are probably confusing the cells, and/or halting their ability to function ??)
This reiterates the answers are in our cells, we have to fix the nutrients and message system going to the cells. Magnesium is part of this, especially when it comes to messages from our central nervous system and not having too much histamine inflammation.

[tex]

Hi Gabes,

That researcher chooses to use quaint terms to describe the respective roles of H1 and H2 receptors. H1 receptors for example don't really trigger a "protection" response. When activated, they trigger a response that is much better described as an aggressive defensive response that involves the release of numerous pro-inflammatory agents. In my mind, the word "protection" conjures up an image of a passive defensive response, such as erecting a barricade or hiding behind cover, for example, or laying low until the threat blows over.

And I wasn't aware that H2 receptors trigger a growth response. Typically, they trigger important chemical processes that are essential for normal functioning of the body. For example, in the stomach, when activated by histamine, H2 receptors command the parietal cells to produce additional gastric acid (in preparation for digesting a meal). Inadequate activation results in inadequate stomach acid, leading to poor digestion, heartburn, gas, bloating, etc. Excess activation (due to too much histamine) leads to excessive acid production, which results in digestive problems at the other extreme, such as gastritis, but again resulting in symptoms such as heartburn, etc. In the bronchial tubes, intestines, and other smooth muscle plumbing (such as blood vessels), H2 receptors promote relaxation, and smooth muscle relaxation also leads to vasodilation (which improves blood flow, and lowers blood pressure).

It's also important to note that H2 receptors tend to inhibit the production of antibodies, T-cells, cytokines, and other pro-inflammatory agents. Are they also capable of triggering a growth response? That news to me, but I certainly wouldn't say that it's impossible.

Taking Antihistamines abates the symptoms, it is not dealing with the root cause.

That's true of all medications of course, except for antibiotics (when taken to stop an infection).

(for those taking both H1 and H2 regularly, we are probably confusing the cells, and/or halting their ability to function ??)

That's an interesting observation, because except for H2 receptors promoting gastric acid production, H2 and H1 receptors do indeed seem to provide opposing effects. H2 receptors attenuate many of the functions of H1 receptors. In fact, using an H2 antihistamine can actually promote inflammation. For more details on all this, please see my comparison of the differences between H1 and H2 receptors in my article on treating mast cell issues

But you are quite correct that using both H1 and H2 antihistamines together may be counterproductive. IMO, the use of H2 antihistamines is only likely to be helpful if/when excess histamine is actually causing excessive gastric acid production.

Tex

[Gabes-Apg]

Thanks tex for the link re H1 - H2 and I had either missed or forgotten that H2 blockers would encourage inflammation.

that also explains why i have done really well with the Mag, Vit C and Zinc as histamine balance (in lieu of H1 and H2 blockers), the mag, vit C and Zinc is focussing on balanced histamine (h1) and there is no inflammation generated from taking H2 blockers.

The mystery of all of this is in that membrane of the cell, what it is doing and not doing, we are getting hints from various sources, but not a complete story.