Gene HDC
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Also known as
histidine decarboxylase, L-histidine decarboxylaseOverview
HDC (Histidine Decarboxylase) encodes the enzyme that converts histidine to histamine, the only pathway for histamine synthesis in mammals. This enzyme is expressed in mast cells, basophils, enterochromaffin-like cells of the stomach, and histaminergic neurons in the brain, where histamine serves diverse physiological functions.Histamine produced by HDC plays critical roles in gastric acid secretion, allergic inflammation, neurotransmission, and immune regulation. Variants in HDC have been associated with Tourette syndrome and other tic disorders. Rare loss-of-function mutations cause reduced histamine production, which may manifest as neurological symptoms given histamine's role as a brain neurotransmitter.
Understanding your HDC genetic status provides insights into histamine synthesis capacity, which is relevant for understanding allergic responses, gastric function, and potentially neurological conditions. This gene is central to understanding histamine-related conditions.