Histamine receptor 2 blockade selectively impacts B and T cells in healthy subjects

Dihia Meghnem, Sharon A. Oldford, Ian D. Haidl, Lisa Barrett, Jean S. Marshall

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Histamine receptor 2 (H2R) blockade is commonly used in patients with gastric, duodenal ulcers or gastroesophageal reflux disease. Beyond the gastrointestinal tract, H2R is expressed by multiple immune cells, yet little is known about the immunomodulatory effects of such treatment. Clinical reports have associated H2R blockade with leukopenia, neutropenia, and myelosuppression, and has been shown to provide clinical benefit in certain cancer settings. To systematically assess effects of H2R blockade on key immune parameters, a single-center, single-arm clinical study was conducted in 29 healthy subjects. Subjects received daily high dose ranitidine for 6 weeks. Peripheral blood immunophenotyping and mediator analysis were performed at baseline, 3 and 6 weeks into treatment, and 12 weeks after treatment cessation. Ranitidine was well-tolerated, and no drug related adverse events were observed. Ranitidine had no effect on number of neutrophils, basophils or eosinophils. However, ranitidine decreased numbers of B cells and IL-2Rα (CD25) expressing T cells that remained lower even after treatment cessation. Reduced serum levels of IL-2 were also observed and remained low after treatment. These observations highlight a previously unrecognised immunomodulatory sustained impact of H2R blockade. Therefore, the immune impacts of H2R blockade may require greater consideration in the context of vaccination and immunotherapy.

Original languageEnglish
Article number9405
JournalScientific Reports
Volume11
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work was funded by a Canadian Cancer Society Grant generously supported by the Lotte and John Hecht Memorial Foundation (Grant #704444). DM is supported by Dr. David H. Hubel Postdoctoral Fellowship funded by the Dalhousie Medical Research Foundation.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021, The Author(s).

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

  • General

PubMed: MeSH publication types

  • Clinical Trial, Phase IV
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

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