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

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.

• Authors: Sun-Hwa Lee, Sun-Mi Choi, Eun Jin Yang
• Journal: Toxins (Toxins (Basel)) Vol. 7 Issue 8 Pg. 2835-44 (Jul 29 2015) ISSN: 2072-6651 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 26230709 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Aif1 protein, mouse
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents
• Bee Venoms
• Calcium-Binding Proteins
• Microfilament Proteins
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
• Ptgs2 protein, mouse
• Cyclooxygenase 2
• Sod1 protein, mouse
• Superoxide Dismutase
• Superoxide Dismutase-1

Topics

• Acupuncture Therapy
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (metabolism, therapy)
• Animals
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Bee Venoms (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Calcium-Binding Proteins (metabolism)
• Cyclooxygenase 2 (metabolism)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Kidney (drug effects, metabolism)
• Liver (drug effects, metabolism)
• Mice, Transgenic
• Microfilament Proteins (metabolism)
• Spleen (drug effects, metabolism)
• Superoxide Dismutase (genetics)
• Superoxide Dismutase-1
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (metabolism)