In human neutrophils, histamine H2-receptors mediate activation of adenylyl cyclase (AC) and inhibition of N-formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine (FMLP)-induced superoxide anion (O2-) formation, and in HL-60 promyelocytes, H2-receptors mediate parallel activation of AC, phospholipase C (PLC) and non-selective cation (NSC) channels. As all-trans-retinoic acid (RA) is successfully used in the differentiation therapy of acute promyelocytic leukaemia, we studied signal transduction in RA-differentiated HL-60 cells. Histamine and the H2-receptor agonist, impromidine, induced both rises in cAMP levels and cytosolic Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i). Substances acting at post-receptor sites to increase cAMP did not increase [Ca2+]i. H2- but not H1-receptor antagonists inhibited histamine-induced cAMP accumulation and rises in [Ca2+]i were more effectively inhibited by H2- than by H1-receptor antagonists. Histamine-induced rises in [Ca2+]i were completely dependent on the presence of extracellular Ca2+ and were abolished by the blocker of NSC channels, Gd3+, but were resistant to inhibition by pertussis toxin. Unlike FMLP, histamine did not activate PLC. The effects of FMLP on [Ca2+]i were less sensitive to blockade by Gd3+ than those of histamine, and there was no cross-desensitization between the two stimuli. FMLP, but not histamine, inhibited transiently thapsigargin-induced rises in [Ca2+]. Taken together, our results show that histamine activates AC-mediated cAMP accumulation in RA-differentiated HL-60 cells via H2-receptors and NSC channel-mediated Ca2+ influx via H2- (and H1)-receptors. Histamine-induced NSC channel activation is not the consequence of AC- or PLC stimulation and occurs, directly or indirectly, via pertussis toxin-insensitive guanine nucleotide-binding proteins. FMLP and histamine activate Ca2+ influx by different mechanisms. There are similarities in H2-receptor-mediated signal transduction between RA-differentiated HL-60 cells and HL-60 promyelocytes and differences between the former cells and neutrophils, indicating that RA-differentiated HL-60 cells must be considered as partially immature.