histamine

(noun)

an amine that causes dilatation of capillaries, contraction of smooth muscle, and stimulation of gastric acid secretion; it is released during allergic reactions

Related Terms

  • autoantibody

Examples of histamine in the following topics:

  • Pathogen Recognition

    • A mast cell is a leukocyte that produces inflammatory molecules, such as histamine, in response to large pathogens.
    • A hypersensitive immune response to harmless antigens, such as in pollen, often involves the release of histamine by basophils and mast cells; this is why many anti-allergy medications are anti-histamines.
    • In response to a cut, mast cells secrete histamines that cause nearby capillaries to dilate.
  • Hypersensitivities

    • Upon subsequent exposure to the same allergen, IgE molecules on mast cells bind the antigen via their variable domains, stimulating the mast cell to release the modified amino acids histamine and serotonin.
    • On secondary exposure, the mast cells release histamines and other modulators that affect the symptoms of allergy.
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