Effect of histamine on rat gastric H(+)-K(+)-ATPase alpha-subunit expression

The H(+)-K(+)-adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase) is expressed in the parietal cell and is responsible for acid secretion by the stomach. Histamine binds to an H2 receptor and activates adenylate cyclase and intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) elevation, stimulating acid secretion. It has been shown that omeprazole administered to rats increases serum gastrin and transiently increases the level of mRNA for the alpha-subunit of the pump, but this increase is blocked by the presence of the H2-receptor antagonist, famotidine [A. Tari, G. Yamamoto, K. Sumii, M. Sumii, Y. Takehara, K. Haruma, G. Kajiyama, V. Wu, G. Sachs, and J. H. Walsh. Am. J. Physiol. 265 (Gastrointest. Liver Physiol. 28): G752-G758, 1993]. These observations suggest that the release of histamine induced by gastrin is essential for the increase of the expression of mRNA induced by omeprazole. Infusion of histamine at 15 mumol.kg-1.h-1 i.v. for 1 h increased the alpha-subunit mRNA level by 144 +/- 2.4% and induced a stimulated morphological appearance of the parietal cell. These changes were inhibited completely by the competitive H2-receptor antagonist famotidine, which elevated gastric pH and serum gastrin. Famotidine also reduced the level of H(+)-K(+)-ATPase mRNA compared with control animals. No change in the expression of beta-actin mRNA was observed in any group of animals. These data provide direct evidence for histamine stimulation of H(+)-K(+)-ATPase alpha-subunit gene expression by activation of the H2 receptor.