Effect of gamma-irradiated honey bee venom on gene expression of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in mice.

Abstract

In this study, the effect of gamma-irradiated honey bee venom (doses of 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8kGy, volume of 0.1ml and concentration of 0.2mg/ml) was evaluated on the reduction of allergen compounds and the gene expression of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in mice. Hence, edema activity induced by the bee venom irradiated at 4, 6, and 8kGy was reduced, compared with the control group and that irradiated at 2kGy. In contrast, the paw edema induced by the bee venom irradiated at 8kGy increased, compared with 4 and 6kGy. At all the time periods, there was a significant decrease in the gene expression of interferon gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and interleukin 10 (IL-10) in the bee venoms irradiated at 4, 6, and 8kGy, compared with the control group and that irradiated at 2kGy. In contrast, there was an increase in the gene expression of IFN-γ and IL-6 in the bee venom irradiated at 8kGy, compared with those irradiated at 4 and 6kGy. Therefore, gamma irradiation at 4 and 6kGy reduced the gene expression of cytokines at each time period by decreasing the allergen compounds of honey bee venom.