Antiapoptotic role of major royal jelly protein 8 of honeybee (Apis mellifera) venom

Abstract

• Apis mellifera major royal jelly protein 8 and 9 (AmMRJP 8 and 9) are venom components. • AmMRJP 8 reduces caspase-3 activity and melittin-induced cell apoptosis. • AmMRJP 8 reduces the production of H 2 O 2 and proinflammatory molecules. • AmMRJP 8 exhibits antiapoptotic activity against melittin-induced cell damage. The dominant protein components of honeybee royal jelly (RJ) are major royal jelly proteins (MRJPs), which exhibit various biological properties. However, the biological basis of why bee venom contains MRJPs and what role MRJPs play in bee venom remains to be elucidated. This study reports the antiapoptotic role of MRJP 8 of Apis mellifera venom (AmMRJP 8) in melittin-treated mammalian cells. Recombinant AmMRJP 8 reduced caspase-3 activity and melittin-induced cell apoptosis. Additionally, recombinant AmMRJP 8 decreased the production levels of H 2 O 2 and proinflammatory molecules. These results indicate that MRJP in bee venom plays a role in cell protection in bee venom-induced inflammatory responses.