Previous studies have suggested that histamine (HA) acts as an autocrine growth factor. We have explored the modulation of cell proliferation by HA using McA-RH7777 hepatoma cells. High L-histidine decarboxylase (HDC) expression and HA synthesis were found in McA-RH7777 cells. Whereas extracellular HA reached submicromolar concentrations, intracellular levels were very low, indicating that HA was secreted by the cells.McA-RH7777 cells also express H 3 -receptor (H 3 R) transcripts and proteins. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis detected only transcripts for the long isoform. Immunocytochemistry performed with a selective H 3 R antibody showed that most cells were immunoreactive. H 3 R binding sites (B max Ïł30 fmol/mg protein) were identified when [125 I] iodoproxyfan binding was displaced by the agonist imetit. High-affinity binding also occurred at cytochrome P450 enzymes. This binding was not inhibited by HA, H 3 R agonists, or by a nonimidazole H 3 R antagonist but was displaced by imidazole H 3 R antagonists or by ketoconazole, a imidazolecontaining cytochrome inhibitor. HA inhibited proliferation of McA-RH7777 hepatoma cells. The absence of uptake system, its much higher potency at H 3 Rs, and its low intracellular levels suggested that HA interacted with H 3 Rs rather than cytochromes. In agreement, both imidazole H 3 R antagonists, a nonimidazole H 3 R antagonist, and the HDC inhibitor âŁ-monofluoromethyl histidine increased cell proliferation (up to Ïł60%), revealing a H 3 R-mediated inhibition by endogenous HA. Moreover, exogenous HA inhibited the increase induced by âŁ-FMH or H 3 R antagonists with a nanomolar potency. In conclusion, our findings show that HA regulates proliferation of McA-RH7777 hepatoma cells by interacting with autoinhibitory H 3 Rs.