Methodologies to Identify and Analyze Genetic Polymorphisms for Human Histamine Receptors -- Development, Characterization, and Validation of Anti-Human H3 Receptor Isoform-Specific Antibodies -- Approaches to Recombinant Histamine H3/H4 Receptor Expression in Mammalian Cells -- Histamine H2 Receptor Biased Signaling Methods -- Ligand-Binding Kinetics on Histamine Receptors -- Methods to Study the Molecular Pharmacology of the Histamine H4 Receptor -- Chemiluminescence: A Sensitive Method for Detecting the Effects of Histamine Receptor Agonists/Antagonists on Neutrophil Oxidative Burst -- Techniques Used in Pharmacological Evaluation of Histamine H4 Receptor Function on Native Human Eosinophils -- Assessment of the Efficacy of Histamine Receptor Antagonists in Murine Models of Atopic Dermatitis -- Methodological Approaches to Study Histamine Pharmacology in the Kidney: From Cell Culture and Cell Imaging to Functional Assays and Electron Microscopy -- Histamine and the Kidney: In Vivo Animal Models -- Methodological Approaches to Investigate the Effects of Histamine Receptor Targeting Compounds in Preclinical Models of Breast Cancer -- Evaluation of Histidine Decarboxylase (HDC) Activity and Human Histamine Receptor 3 (H3R) and HDC mRNA Levels -- Cerebrospinal Fluid Markers in Neuroinflammation: The Paradigm of Optic Neuritis -- In Vivo Diagnostic Procedures for IgE-Mediated Allergic Disorders -- Dermatological Indications of Antihistamines -- Histamine Quantification in Human Blood Samples.

This book illustrates the current state-of-the-art in histamine research, with a focus on the appropriate methodologies to investigate the pharmacological properties and the therapeutic exploitation of HRs and their ligands. In addition, the range of techniques described provides an introduction to complementary cross-methodological disciplines beyond these fields. This multi-disciplinary approach is required to define the 'decision gates' that determine the development of more effective and safer therapeutic options for many forms of highly prevalent and debilitating diseases, such as asthma, dementias, dermatitis, and arthritis. Written for the Methods in Pharmacology and Toxicology series, chapters concentrate on practical, hands-on protocols from experts in the techniques. Authoritative and thorough, Histamine Receptors as Drug Targets seeks to aid pharmacologists, biochemists, drug discovery researchers, molecular biologists, chemists, toxicologists, lab scientists, medical doctors, principle investigators, research scientists, lab directors and technicians, as well as graduate students around the world in pursuing the study of this vital scientific area.