Journal of Acupuncture Research

Korean Acupuncture & Moxibustion Medicine Society (대한침구의학회)
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The effect of Bee Venom on type II Collagen-induced Arthritis

봉독약침이 제2형 콜라겐유도 관절염에 미치는 영향

  • Kim, Tae-Woo (Department of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, College of Oriental Medicine in Kyung-Hee University) ;
  • Choi, Do-Young (Department of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, College of Oriental Medicine in Kyung-Hee University) ;
  • Lee, Jae-Dong (Department of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, College of Oriental Medicine in Kyung-Hee University)
  • 김태우 (경희대학교 한의과대학 침구학교실) ;
  • 최도영 (경희대학교 한의과대학 침구학교실) ;
  • 이재동 (경희대학교 한의과대학 침구학교실)
  • Received : 2002.02.01
  • Accepted : 2002.03.19
  • Published : 2002.04.20
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Abstract

Objective : Bee venom (BV) has traditionally been used in Oriental medicine to relieve pain and to treat inflammatory disease such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Autoimmunity to type II collagen (CII) may involve in the pathogenesis of RA. This study was performed to evaluate the effect of BV on type II collagen induced arthritis (CIA) with the naked eye, a immunohistochemical method and the examination of histology. Method : Male mice were immunized by subcutaneously injection of an $200{\mu}g$ emulsion mixed with bovine CII and complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) twice for two weeks. In the control group, normal saline was injected, and in the experimental group, BV was applied. Result : The incidence of arthritis, the mean arthritis index and the number of the arthritic limbs of the BV group were all significantly lower than those of the control group. Among the pro-inflammatory cytokines, the production of $TNF-{\alpha}$ in the BV group was also suppressed compared with the control group, but $IL-1{\beta}$ was not. The examination on the histopathology of joints of CIA mice showed the effect of Bee Venom Herbal Acupuncture on the arthritis. Conculusion : Treatment with BV resulted in inhibition of development of arthritis and immune responses to CII.

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