Effects of bee venom on the maturation of murine dendritic cells stimulated by LPS

Differential uptake of three clinically relevant allergens by human plasmacytoid dendritic cells

Background

Human plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) have a dual role as interferon-producing and antigen-presenting cells. Their relevance for allergic diseases is controversial. and the impact of pDC on allergic immune responses is poorly understood.

Methods

This in vitro study on human pDC isolated from peripheral blood was designed to compare side by side the uptake of three clinically relevant representative allergens: fluorochrome-labeled house dust mite Der p 1, Bee venom extract from Apis mellifera (Api) and the food allergen OVA analyzed flow cytometry and confocal microscopy.

Results

We found that the internalization and its regulation by TLR9 ligation was significantly different between allergens in terms of time course and strength of uptake. Api and OVA uptake in pDC of healthy subjects was faster and reached higher levels than Der p 1 uptake. CpG ODN 2006 suppressed OVA uptake and to a lesser extent Der p 1, while Api internalization was not affected. All allergens colocalized with LAMP1 and EEA1, with Api being internalized particularly fast and reaching highest intracellular levels in pDC. Of note, we could not determine any specific differences in antigen uptake in allergic compared with healthy subjects.

Conclusions

To our knowledge this is the first study that directly compares uptake regulation of clinically relevant inhalative, injective and food allergens in pDC. Our findings may help to explain differences in the onset and severity of allergic reactions as well as in the efficiency of AIT.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12948-021-00163-8.

Assessment of bee venom therapy in animal model of statin-induced myopathy

Background

Statin-induced myopathy is the most common adverse effect of statins. Bee venom provides a potential mean of controlling immune responses and inflammatory reactions; the proposed mechanisms for statin-induced myopathy.

Objective

The present study aimed at clarification of the role of the bee venom in prevention of statin-induced myopathy.

Materials and methods

It was carried out on 30 Sprague-Dawley female rats. Rats were randomly classified into 3 groups: control group, statin group which received statins for 2 weeks, and venom group that was exposed to alternate day actual bee sting concurrent to statins administration for 2 weeks. Quantitative electromyography (QEMG) was performed as well as serum creatine kinase (CK) and cholesterol levels, in addition to in vitro muscle contractility tests.

Results

QEMG and contractility tests showed significant changes in the statin group compared to both control and venom groups. Serum cholesterol level decreased with increase in CK levels in the statin and venom groups compared to controls; however, the CK level was significantly lower in the venom group as compared to the statin group.

Conclusion

Bee venom therapy offers a simple and available means of prophylaxis against the myopathic effects induced by statins in animal model. However, it partly restricts the therapeutic effect of statins.

Immunotherapy using lipopolysaccharide-stimulated bone marrow-derived dendritic cells to treat experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) produced by Gram-negative bacteria induces tolerance and suppresses inflammatory responses in vivo; however, the mechanisms are poorly understood. In this study we show that LPS induces apoptosis of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (DCs) and modulates phenotypes of DCs. LPS treatment up-regulates expression of tolerance-associated molecules such as CD205 and galectin-1, but down-regulates expression of Gr-1 and B220 on CD11c(+) DCs. Moreover, LPS treatment regulates the numbers of CD11c(+) CD8(+) , CD11c(+) CD11b(low) and CD11c(+) CD11b(hi) DCs, which perform different immune functions in vivo. Our data also demonstrated that intravenous transfer of LPS-treated DCs blocks experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) development and down-regulates expression of retinoic acid-related orphan receptor gamma t (ROR-γt), interleukin (IL)-17A, IL-17F, IL-21, IL-22 and interferon (IFN)-γ in myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-primed CD4(+) T cells in the peripheral environment. These results suggest that LPS-induced apoptotic DCs may lead to generation of tolerogenic DCs and suppress the activity of MOG-stimulated effector CD4(+) T cells, thus inhibiting the development of EAE in vivo. Our results imply a potential mechanism of LPS-induced tolerance mediated by DCs and the possible use of LPS-induced apoptotic DCs to treat autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis.

Targeting TNF-α and NF-κB activation by bee venom: role in suppressing adjuvant induced arthritis and methotrexate hepatotoxicity in rats

Low dose methotrexate is the cornerstone for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. One of its major drawbacks is hepatotoxicity, resulting in poor compliance of therapy. Dissatisfied arthritis patients are likely to seek the option of complementary and alternative medicine such as bee venom. The combination of natural products with modern medicine poses the possibility of potential interaction between the two groups and needs investigation. The present study was aimed to investigate the modulatory effect of bee venom acupuncture on efficacy, toxicity, and pharmacokinetics and tissue disposition of methotrexate. Complete Freund's adjuvant induced arthritic rats were treated for 3 weeks with methotrexate and/or bee venom. Arthritic score, ankle diameter, paw volume and tissue expression of NF-κB and TNF-α were determined to assess anti-arthritic effects, while anti-nociceptive effects were assessed by gait score and thermal hyperalgesia. Methotrexate toxicity was assessed by measuring serum TNF-α, liver enzymes and expression of NF-κB in liver. Combination therapy of bee venom with methotrexate significantly improved arthritic parameters and analgesic effect as compared to methotrexate alone. Bee venom ameliorated serum TNF-α and liver enzymes elevations as well as over expression of NF-κB in liver induced by methotrexate. Histological examination supported the results. And for the first time bee venom acupuncture was approved to increase methotrexate bioavailability with a significant decrease in its elimination.

CONCLUSION

bee venom potentiates the anti-arthritic effects of methotrexate, possibly by increasing its bioavailability. Also, it provides a potent anti-nociceptive effect. Furthermore, bee venom protects against methotrexate induced hepatotoxicity mostly due to its inhibitory effect on TNF-α and NF-κB.

Bee venom induced in vivo ultrastructural reactions of cells involved in the bone marrow erythropoiesis and of circulating red blood cells

Ultrastructural answer of bone marrow erythroid series and of red blood cells (RBCs) in Wistar rats to bee venom (BV) was analyzed by transmission and scanning electron microscopy, and corroborated with hematological data. A 5-day and a 30-day treatment with daily doses of 700 μg BV/kg and an acute-lethal treatment with a single dose of 62 mg BV/kg were performed. The 5-day treatment resulted in a reduced cellularity of the bone marrow, with necrosed proerythroblasts, polymorphous erythroblasts, and reticulocytes with cytoplasmic extensions, and a lower number of larger RBCs, with poikilocytosis (acanthocytosis) and anisocytosis, and reduced concentrations of hemoglobin. After the 30-day treatment, the bone marrow architecture was restored, but polymorphous erythroblasts and reticulocytes with thin extensions could still be observed, while the RBCs in higher number were smaller, many with abnormal shapes, especially acanthocytes. The acute treatment produced a partial depopulation of the bone marrow and ultrastructural changes of erythroblasts including abnormal mitochondrial cristae. The RBCs in lower number were bigger and crenated, with reduced concentrations of hemoglobin. Overall, BV was able to promote stress erythropoiesis in a time- and dose-related manner, mitochondrial cristae modification being a critical factor involved in the toxicity of the BV high doses.

Anti-inflammatory effect of bee venom on antigen-induced arthritis in rabbits: influence of endogenous glucocorticoids

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study assessed the involvement of endogenous glucocorticoids (GCs) in the anti-arthritic properties of bee venom (BV) on antigen-induced arthritis (AIA) in rabbits.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

BV (1.5-6 microg/kg/day) was injected for 7 days before AIA induction, whereas the control group received sterile saline. The total and differential leukocyte count, PGE(2) levels in synovial fluid and synovial membrane cell infiltrate were evaluated. The contribution of GCs to BV action was assessed in rabbits treated with BV plus metyrapone, an inhibitor of GC synthesis, or RU-38 486, a steroid antagonist.

RESULTS

Treatment with BV (1.5 microg/kg/day) reduced the leukocyte count and PGE(2) level (18571+/-1909 cells/mm(3) and 0.49+/-0.05 ng/mL, respectively) as well as the cellular infiltrate compared with the control group (40968+/-5248 cells/mm(3) and 2.92+/-0.68 ng/mL, p<0.05). The addition of metyrapone to BV treatment completely reversed the inhibition of AIA, whereas RU-38 486 was ineffective.

CONCLUSION

Our data show that bee venom treatment prevents the development of antigen-induced arthritis in rabbits through the action of GCs.

Effect of bee venom on transforming growth factor-beta1-treated hepatocytes

Bee venom (BV) has been used as treatment against a wide variety of ailments, including inflammatory diseases. Various studies have demonstrated anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects of BV. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 induces hepatocyte apoptosis via the mitochondrial permeability transition. However, there is no evidence or information regarding the antiapoptotic effect of BV on hepatocytes. The authors investigated the antiapoptotic effect of BV on TGF-beta1-treated hepatocytes. The results showed significant protection from DNA damage by BV treatment compared to corresponding TGF-beta1-treated hepatocytes without BV. BV suppressed TGF-beta1-induced activation of the bcl-2 family and caspase family of proteins, which resulted in inhibition of poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) cleavage. Furthermore, BV is not cytotoxic in the low concentrations used in this study. Low concentrations of BV potently suppress the apoptotic response in TGF-beta1-treated hepatocytes; therefore, BV may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of liver diseases.