[Influence of carnosine on the immunosuppressive effect of histamine]

It has been demonstrated in experiments that histamine is capable of suppressing the antigen-induced proliferation of mouse spleen cells. This histamine effect was suppressed by its H-2 antagonist metiamide but not H-1 antagonist mepiramine. Carnosine exerted an action similar to metiamide, also inhibiting the histamine-caused suppression of murine lymphocyte proliferation. This makes it possible to classify it with the group of H-2-histamine blockers. The H-2-antihistamine properties exhibited by carnosine necessitate its further study as a new antiallergic drug.