How is histamine related to allergies?
When the hypersensitive individual is initially exposed to the antigen, they will produce allergen specific antibodies, primarily immunoglobulin E (IgE), that will during subsequent exposures bond with membrane proteins on the mast cell membrane. This bonding allows degranulation (the release of stored chemicals) of the mast cell. Mast cells manufacture and store chemicals, including histamine, that are responsible for the affects of inflamation.
