Molecular Cloning and Characterization of a New Human Histamine Receptor, HH4R

A new histamine receptor, HH4R, was cloned from human leukocyte cDNA. The deduced amino acid sequence showed about 40% identity to that of the human histamine H3 receptor, HH3R. HH4R-expressing cells responded to histamine, inhibiting forskolin-induced cAMP accumulation. An H3 agonist, N-α-methylhistamine (NAMHA), bound specifically to HH4R, while another H3 agonist, R(−)-α-methylhistamine (RAMHA), and the H3 antagonist, thioperamide, competed with this binding. RAMHA, NAMHA, and imetit inhibited forskolin-induced cAMP accumulation in HH4R-expressing cells. However, the binding affinities and agonistic activities of H3 agonists to HH4R were weaker than those to HH3R. Low expression of HH4R was detected in a wide variety of peripheral tissues by RT-PCR; however, in contrast with HH3R, expression was not detected in the brain. These observations indicate that the clone is a distinct histamine receptor from HH3R, and thus is named HH4R.