Histamine 2 receptors in cardiovascular biology: A friend for the heart.

• Mast cells are important mediators in cardiovascular diseases. • The mast cell mediator, histamine is involved in cardiovascular pathophysiology. • Histamine receptors are better target for treating cardiovascular therapies. • Antihistamines have been used widely in preclinical and clinical studies for CVDs. • Repurposing of H2 receptor antagonists will aid in better adjuvant therapies for CVDs. Undermining new mediators involved in the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is vital for better disease management. Existing studies implicate a crucial role for inflammation and inflammatory cells, particularly mast cells, in cardiac diseases. Interestingly, the mast cell mediator, histamine, and its receptors profoundly impact the pathophysiology of the heart, resulting in hypertension-induced cardiac hypertrophy and other cardiac anomalies. In this review, we provide a detailed description of mast cell activation, mediators, and histamine receptors, with a particular focus on histamine 2 receptors (H2Rs). Preclinical and clinical studies using histamine receptor antagonists report improvement in cardiac function. Insights into the precise function of histamine receptors will aid in developing novel therapies and pave the way for repurposing antihistamines for cardiovascular diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]