Histamine genomics in silico: polymorphisms of the human genes involved in the synthesis, action and degradation of histamine.

BACKGROUND: Histamine is a ubiquitous biogenic amine involved in the regulation of numerous basic physiological and pathophysiological processes. The DNA sequences of the genes encoding proteins (enzymes and receptors) that participate in the synthesis, degradation and cellular binding of histamine are already identified.
OBJECTIVE: We analyzed the in silico available human sequences to find genetic polymorphisms in histamine-related genes (L-histidine decarboxylase, histamine receptors, histamine N-methyl transferase and diamine-oxidase), and compared these data with findings concerning structure-function relationships in order to get information about the possible pathophysiological relevance of these polymorphisms.
METHODS: Sequence analysis was performed at the National Center for Biotechnology Information Database. The search tool BLAST was applied.
RESULTS: Several sequence variations were found, and it is conceivable that some of these genetic polymorphisms may be related to various pathological conditions. Among sequence variations, variants with no amino acid change, variants resulting in amino acid alterations, and many nucleotide changes involving non-coding sequences were revealed.
CONCLUSIONS: Histamine genomics may provide a new tool for medical prediction and drug design in the future.