Journal of Acupuncture Research

Korean Acupuncture & Moxibustion Medicine Society (대한침구의학회)
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The Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Bee Venom in Monosodium Urate Crystal-Induced THP-1 Cells

  • Sang-Yeup Chae (Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Medicine, Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital at Gangdong) ;
  • Dongmin Lee (Department of Clinical Korean Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University) ;
  • Min-Jung Ko (Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Medicine, Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital at Gangdong) ;
  • Seungeun Lee (Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Medicine, Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital at Gangdong) ;
  • Jaeho Song (Department of Clinical Korean Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University) ;
  • Jinkyung Park (Department of Clinical Korean Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University) ;
  • Sinwoo Park (Department of Clinical Korean Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University) ;
  • Yeon-Cheol Park (Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Medicine, Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital at Gangdong) ;
  • Foo Young Cho (Department of Clinical Korean Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University)
  • Received : 2023.11.08
  • Accepted : 2023.11.10
  • Published : 2023.11.30
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Abstract

Background: Although bee venom (BV) has clinical benefits in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, it has not been tested as treatment for gouty arthritis. Moreover, in vitro, BV has been proven to exhibit anti-inflammatory and positive effects on osteoarthritis, but only limited evidence can confirm its beneficial effects on gout. Thus, this study aims to assess the anti-inflammatory effects of BV on monosodium urate (MSU)-induced THP-1 monocytes. Methods: THP-1 monocytes were differentiated into mature macrophages using phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and pretreated for 6 hours with BV and a Caspase-1 inhibitor in a physiologically achievable range of concentrations (BV, 0.1-1 ㎍/mL; Caspase-1 inhibitor, 1-10 μM), followed by MSU crystal stimulation for 24 hours. The secretions of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-6, IL-8, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and nitric oxide (NO) were increased in the MSU crystal-stimulated THP-1 cells. Results: Caspase-1 inhibitors suppressed the production of all mediators in a dose-dependent manner. BV worked on equal terms with Caspase-1 inhibitors and showed more satisfactory effects on TNF-α, PGE2, COX-2, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Moreover, the western blot analysis revealed that BV regulated the transcriptional levels of these mediators via the suppression of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway activation. Conclusion: The results of the present study clearly suggest that BV inhibits MSU-induced inflammation in vitro, suggesting a possible role for BV in gout treatment.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korean Government (Ministry of Science and ICT) (No. 2018R1C1B5086011). Funding did not affect the content of the study.

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