Abstract
Abstract Introduction: Bee venom (BV) therapy has been used to treat inflammatory diseases including rheumatoid arthritis in humans and in experimental animals. This study was conducted to examine the therapeutic effect of BV on established lupus nephritis in New Zealand Black/White (NZB/W) F1 female mice. Methods: Beginning at 18 weeks of age, mice were given a subcutaneous injection of either BV (3mg/kg body wt) or an equal volume of saline once a week until the end of the study. Results: The proteinuria level and the serum levels of total IgG, IgG2a and anti-dsDNA IgG antibodies in mice treated with BV were lower than those in the saline-treated mice. Concomitant with serum antibody levels, IgG2a immune complex deposition in the glomeruli was reduced in BV treated mice. Furthermore, renal proinflammatory cytokines were also decreased after BV treatment. Interestingly, CD4+CD25+ Regulatory T cells and CD4+Foxp3 positive T cells were significantly increased in the BV treated mice. Conclusions: Collectively, the administration of BV that has immune modulating effects represents an applicable treatment of lupus nephritis in NZB/W F1 mice.
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