Effect of honey bee venom on microglial cells nitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor-α production stimulated by LPS

Abnormal activation of microglial cells has been implicated in various neurodegenerative diseases. Results showed that venom (KBV) produced and purified in Korea regulated lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in the murine microglia, BV-2 cell line. The production of proinflammatory cytokines, NO, and TNF-α was examined by LPS in BV-2 cell. The effect of KBV on the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and TNF-α was investigated by Western blot and RT-PCR in LPS-stimulated BV-2 cells. KBV suppressed the NO, iNOS, and TNF-α production, and decreased the levels of iNOS and TNF-α mRNA. These results suggest that KBV has anti-inflammatory properties that inhibit iNOS and TNF-α expression. KBV could be useful in inhibiting the production of inflammatory cytokine and NO production in neurodegenerative diseases. Further studies on the pharmacological aspects of the individual components of KBV are recommended.