Even lymphocytes can release histamine!

faithberry · Post by **faithberry** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 11:08 am

Hi all,

Hope everyone is well.

Following is a little piece I found that indicates that even lymphocytes and epithelial cells can synthesize and release histamine in small amounts! It probably doesn’t have a huge amount of significance but I found it interesting. I don’t have any background on the person who wrote this, but it does look very scientific!

I see you have a new member with mastocytic enterocolitis, so our previous discussions were not for naught!

I’ve been on the low oxalate diet and the gastrocrom now for about three months. My C-reactive protein has gone down 1 point and my slightly elevated TSH has gone back to the normal range in that time period, needs to go lower. My billirubin has gone from 44 to 18 (normal is 14) since last December. That’s awesome! I think this is because oxalates deplete glutathione (one of the pathways that conjugate billirubin).

I'm not having mast cell reactions. However, most times when I eat I still get burning pain in my thighs, pain in my arm, numbness near my mouth, and similar symptoms…not all at once fortunately. The symptoms seem to rotate around! I think this may be ‘neurogenic switching.’ And...still can't eat many foods but I'm a good weight.

Oh gosh, another layer to figure out! I’m just hoping that once I get the oxalates out of my body, something magical will happen and a lot of stuff will go away. They say this does happen for a lot of gut problems when people do the diet. We’ll see. Maybe it’s just a dream and I have to learn to live with it.

I’m writing in my blog about these topics if you have an interest:
http://mastcellsandme.blogspot.com

Stay well, Faith

www.ehrs.org.uk/schwelberger.pdf
Metabolism of histamine
Hubert G. Schwelberger

In recent years, it became clear that apart from these histamine-storing cell types (mast cells, basophils, enterochromaffin-like cells in the gastric mucosa and histaminergic neurons) many other cells including epithelial cells and lymphocytes can express HDC and synthesize histamine. In these cells, histamine is not stored but appears to be made short-term in small amounts and immediately released. The regulation and function of this low level histamine release is a matter of investigation.

Post by **tex** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 12:46 pm

Hi Faith,

Are you saying that your TSH has declined significantly, even though you haven't taken any thyroid hormone supplement?

Thanks for the info.

Tex

faithberry · Post by **faithberry** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 1:15 pm

Hi Tex,

Remember, I said mildly elevated!!!! It went from 5.46 to 4.44.

5 is considered normal in this lab and 7 is considered hypothyroid. But mine is usually a lot lower than 4.44 even.

I do not take thyroid medication.

I would not yet consider the change significant, but it's much nicer to see a lower figure. I will have it tested again in 3-4 months to see if the downward trend continues.

There's something on the low oxalate site about oxalates accumulating in the thyroid. www.lowoxalate.info

I don't know if that's the case. I'm just tracking my test results.

Faith

Post by **tex** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 3:58 pm

Hmmmm. That lab seems to allow a pretty high number for the upper limit of the "normal" TSH range. Using a "normal" range of 0.5 to 5.5, (which is way too high, IMO), when my TSH tested roughly 3.5, my free T4 tested below range, so I started taking a thyroid supplement. Over the span of about a year, the dose was doubled twice, and these days, my TSH usually runs around 2.5, with a free T4 level in the lower third of the "normal" range, (still not an optimal free T4 level, but probably high enough).

Thyroid function seems to be affected by various influences, and in turn, thyroid function affects the performance of a number of body "systems". When one thing gets out of whack, other things get out of whack.

You seem to be headed in the right direction, though, so hopefully, one of these days, everything will be copacetic.

Thanks for the clarification,
Tex

faithberry · Post by **faithberry** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 8:39 am

You are totally right. The 5 number is too high, I think 3 is now more the standard these days and my usual number is way below that.

Like you say, when the thyroid is out of whack it can effect so many things. I have been concerned about the elevation, but I'm satisfied for the time being that it's going in the right direction and will keep my eye on it. My body would not tolerate thyroid medication at this point in time.

Thanks for your concern.

Faith

Pat · Post by **Pat** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 6:22 pm

Faith,

I just started on Gastrocrom. It seems to make me kinda nauseous. Did you experience that too? I am thinking that a full adult dose may be too much for me because I am small and only weigh 102 or so. I am sure there are much bigger 10-12 year olds. I am going to call my dr tomorrow.

Pat