Apamin from bee venom suppresses inflammation in a murine model of gouty arthritis

Authors
YM Lee, SN Cho, E Son, CH Song, DS Kim et al

Lab
Herbal Medicine Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, South Korea

Journal
Journal of Ethnopharmacology

Abstract
Abstract
Ethnopharmacological relevance Bee venom (BV) has been used for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, and for the relief of pain in traditional oriental medicine.
Aim of study The aim of this study was to determine the anti-inflammatory effect of BV on monosodium urate (MSU)-induced gouty arthritis in a mouse model.
Materials and methods To develop a mouse model of acute gouty arthritis, 4 mg 50 microL_1 of MSU crystal suspension was injected intradermally into the right paw. After MSU crystal injection, we evaluated inflammatory cytokine production in mice of the BV-treated (0.5 and 1 mg kg_1 body weight) and apamin (APM)-treated (0.5 and 1 mg kg_1 body weight) groups. The positive control group was administered a colchicine (1 mg kg_1 body weight) injection with MSU crystals.
Results BV and APM treatment suppressed inflammatory paw edema in MSU-administered mice. It also exerted anti-inflammatory effects in mice with gouty arthritis by inhibiting proinflammatory cytokine production and inflammasome formation. Interestingly, MSU crystal formation was decreased by BV and APM treatment.
Conclusions These results suggest that the APM from BV might be useful for the treatment of gouty arthritis due to its anti-inflammatory activities.

BIOSEB Instruments Used:
Dynamic Weight Bearing 2.0 (BIO-DWB-DUAL)