Bee Venom Acupuncture Augments Anti-Inflammation in the Peripheral Organs of hSOD1G93A Transgenic Mice.

Sun-Hwa Lee,Eun Yang,Sun-Mi Choi

doi:10.3390/toxins7082835

Abstract

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) includes progressively degenerated motor neurons in the brainstem, motor cortex, and spinal cord. Recent reports demonstrate the dysfunction of multiple organs, including the lungs, spleen, and liver, in ALS animals and patients. Bee venom acupuncture (BVA) has been used for treating inflammatory diseases in Oriental Medicine. In a previous study, we demonstrated that BV prevented motor neuron death and increased anti-inflammation in the spinal cord of symptomatic hSOD1G93A transgenic mice. In this study, we examined whether BVA’s effects depend on acupuncture point (ST36) in the organs, including the liver, spleen and kidney, of hSOD1G93A transgenic mice. We found that BV treatment at ST36 reduces inflammation in the liver, spleen, and kidney compared with saline-treatment at ST36 and BV injected intraperitoneally in symptomatic hSOD1G93A transgenic mice. Those findings suggest that BV treatment combined with acupuncture stimulation is more effective at reducing inflammation and increasing immune responses compared with only BV treatment, at least in an ALS animal model.

Highlights

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterized by progressive degeneration of motor neurons and muscle weakness
We found that Bee venom (BV) treatment at ST36 reduced inflammation in the liver, spleen, and kidney compared with that of symptomatic hSOD1G93A transgenic mice treated with saline at ST36 and those injected with BV intraperitoneally
cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) positive hepatocytes were increased in the liver of hSOD1G93A transgenic mice compared with wild type (WT) (1 ± 0.55) mice, but BV treatment at ST36 significantly reduced them by 3.3-fold compared with saline-treated hSOD1G93A transgenic mice

Summary

Introduction

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterized by progressive degeneration of motor neurons and muscle weakness. The death of ALS patients is caused by respiratory failure within 3–5 years of the diagnosis. The etiology of ALS is varied and there is no effective therapy for ALS patients. Bee venom (BV) is used for anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive, and anti-allergic effects in allergic rhinitis mice, complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA)-induced arthritis models, and neuropathic pain models [2,3,4]. BV treatment prevents the loss of dopaminergic neurons in 1-methyl-4phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced Parkinson’s disease (PD) and motor neurons in hSOD1G93A-overexpressed ALS-mimic transgenic mice [5,6,7]. It is unclear whether BV’s effects depend on acupuncture points or not. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether

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