Enterochromaffin-like cell

Although mast cells and basophils probably account for >90% of stored histamine in the body, histamine is also present in platelets, enterochromaffin-like cells, endothelial cells, and neurons. Histamine can act as a neurotransmitter in the brain. Histaminergic nerves have their cell bodies within a very small area of the brain (the magnocellular nuclei of the posterior hypothalamus) but have axons in most areas of the forebrain. There is also evidence for axons projecting into the spinal (Fig. 1) cord. Finally, there is evidence that histamine synthesis can be induced in tissues undergoing rapid tissue growth and repair. In certain neonatal tissues (e.g. liver), the rate of synthesis of this unstored diffusable histamine (termed nascent histamine) is profound and may point to a role for histamine is cell proliferation. 

The classical cellular sources of histamine are mast cells and basophils, gastric enterochromaffin-like cells, platelets and histaminergic neurons. Interestingly the cells in the immune system, which do not store histamine, show high HDC activity and are capable of production of high amounts of histamine, which is secreted immediately after synthesis [20]. These cells include platelets, monocytes/macrophages, DCs, neutrophils, and T and B lymphocytes. 

Histamine (B). Histamine is stored in basophils and tissue mast cells. It plays a role in inflammatory and allergic reactions (p. 72, 326) and produces bronchoconstriction, increased intestinal peristalsis, and dilation and increased permeability of small blood vessels. In the gastric mucosa, it is released from enterochromaffin-like cells and stimulates acid secretion by the parietal cells. In the CNS, it acts as a neuromodulator. Two receptor subtypes (G-pro-tein-coupled), H and H2. are of therapeutic importance both mediate vascular responses. Prejunctional H3 receptors exist in brain and the periphery. 

Kidd, M., Tang, L.H., Miu, K., Lawton, G.P., Sandor, A., Modlin, I.M. (1996). Autoregulation of enterochromaffin-like cell histamine secretion via the histamine 3 receptor subtype. Yale J. Biol. Med. 69, 9-19. 

Prinz, C., Kajimura, M., Scott, D.R., Mercier, F., Helander, H.F., Sachs, G., 1993. Histamine secretion from rat enterochromaffin-like cells. Gastroenterology 105, 449-461. 

Schematic diagram of one model of the physiologic control of hydrogen ion secretion by the gastric parietal cell. ECL cell, enterochromaffin-like cell G(CCK-B), gastrin-cholecystokinin-B receptor H, histamine H2, histamine H2 receptor Mi, M3, muscarinic receptors ST2, somatostatin2 receptor ATPase, K /H ATPase proton pump. Some investigators place histamine receptors—and possibly cholinoceptors—on nearby tissue cells rather than on the parietal cell itself. (Modified and redrawn from Sachs G, Prinz C Gastric enterochromaffin-like cells and the regulation of acid secretion. News Physiol Sci 1996 11 57, and other sources.)...

Katz LB, Schoof RA, Shriver DA (1987) Use of a five-day test to predict the long-term effects of gastric antisecretory agents on serum gastrin in rats. J Pharmacol Meth 18 275-282 Larsson H, Carlsson E, Mattsson H et al. (1986) Plasma gastrin and gastric enterochromaffin-like cell activation and proliferation. Studies with omeprazole and ranitidine in intact and antrectomized rats. Gastroenterology 90 391-399... 

Enterochromaffin-like cell proliferation Thyroid toxicity... 

The stomach secretes hydrochloric acid under the influences of vagus nerve stimulation, gastrin and histamine. Histamine is the most potent stimulus of gastric acid secretion in some animal species studied, such as the horse (Kitchen et al 1998a). Histamine is released by mast cells and enterochromaffin-like cells that are immediately adjacent to the parietal cells. Histamine interacts with two distinct subsets of histamine H2 receptors on the parietal cell membrane, initiating a series of reactions that result in the phosphorylation of protein kinases and increased intracellular calcium within the parietal cell. This, in turn, results in transformation and translocation of the... 

Mast cells and enterochromaffin-like cells found in the interstitium and among parietal cells contain histamine, which acts on parietal cell receptors to stimulate the release of hydrochloric acid. The histamine receptor on parietal cells is designated as H2 and is blocked by H2 blockers such as cimetidine which are widely used to treat peptic ulcers. 

Matsuki and colleagues evaluated histidine decarboxylase, an enzyme of the amine precursor uptake and decarboxylation system known to be distributed in mast cells and enterochromaffin-like cells, with the hypothesis that this enzyme was a marker for neuroendocrine differentiation. The authors found that the anti-histidine decarboxylase antibody stained most small cell lung cancers (18 of 23 sensitivity 0.78) and was rarely reactive with non-neuroendocrine lung tumors... 

In cases of suspected autoimmune gastritis, gastrin immunohistochemistry can be used to distinguish antral from atrophic body or fundic mucosa synaptophysin and chromogranin immunohistochemistry is useful in the detection of enterochromaffin-like cell hyperplasia, a characteristic feature of autoimmune gastritis. 

Rindi G, Paolotti D, Fiocca R, et al. Vesicular monoamine transporter 2 as a marker of gastric enterochromaffin-like cell tumors. Virchows Arch. 2000 436 217-223. 

Azzoni C, Doglioni C, Viale G, et al. Involvement of BCL-2 oncoprotein in the development of enterochromaffin-like cell gastric carcinoids. Am Surg Pathol. 1996 20 433-441. 

Larsson, H. et al. 1986. Plasma gastrin and gastric enterochromaffin like cell activation and proliferation. Gastroenterology 90 391-399. 

BrennaE, Waldum HE (1991) Studies of isolated parietal and enterochromaffin-like cells from the rat. Scand J Gastroenterol 26 1295-1306... 

The inhibitory ligands for the enterochromaffin-like cell, showing the subtype expressed and their effects on calcium and histamine, as well as their pertussis toxin sensitivity (G, coupling). This table shows the inhibitory effects of the ligands on ECL cell responses. 

Prinz C, Kajimura M, Scott DR, et al. Histamine secretion from rat enterochromaffin-like cells. Gastroenterology 1993 105 449. 

Prinz C, Sachs G, Walsh J, et al. The somatostatin receptor subtype on rat enterochromaffin-like cells. Gastroenterology 1994 107 1067. 

Havu N. Enterochromaffin-like cell cardnoids of the gastric mucosa after life-long inhibition of gastric secretion. Digestion 1986 35 42. 

Prinz C, Scott DR, Hurwitz D, et al. Gastrin effects on isolated rat enterochromaffin-like cells in primary culture. Am J Physiol 1994 267 G663. 

Ryber B, Tielemanns Y, Axelson J, et al. Gastrin stimulates the self-replication of enterochromaffin-like cells in the rat stomach. Gastroenterology 1990 99 935. 

Tielemanns Y, Hakanson R, Sundler F, et al. Proliferation of enterochromaffin-like cells in omeprazole treated hypergastrinemic rats. 

Wallmark B, Skaenberg I, Mattson H, et al. Effects of 20 weeks ranitidine treatment on plasma gastrin levels and gastric enterochromaffin-like cell density in the rat. Digestion 1990 45 181. 

Modlin IM, Zhu Z, Tang LH, et al. Evidence for a regulatory role for histamine in gastric enterochromaffin-like cell proliferation induced by hypergastrinemia. Digestion 1996 57 310-321. 

Havu N, Mattsson H, Ekman L, Carlsson E (1990) Enterochromaffin-like cell carcinoids in the rat gastric mucosa following long-term administration of ranitidine. Digestion 45 189-195... 

Havu N (1986) Enterochromaffin-like cell carcinoids of gastric mucosa in rats after lifelong inhibition of gastric secretion. Digestion 35 (Suppl 1) 42-55... 

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