• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.68-76
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• 2003

Objective : In the pain control, Bee Venom Acupuncture therapy is highly effective but cause allergic side-effects frequently. This study was performed to compare Bee Venom(BV) with BV Partner(BVP) in decreasing side-effects of BV. Methods : BV partner(BVP) which dilutes the Morus bombycis Koiduzumi Herbal Acupuncture was developed to decrease the side effects of the Bee Venom. We used D.I.T.I. to verify the effectiveness of BVP in decreasing side-effect of BV. We injected BV to Group I (n=18) at 4 points of body [Fengmen(風門 : B12), Feishu(肺兪 : B13), Fufen(附分 : B41), Pohu(魄戶 : B42)], and BVP to group II (N=18) at the same points. We observed the chages of temperature at beginning, 5 minutes, 1 hour, 1 day, 2days and 7days after injection. Results : The following results were obtained; 1. The difference of temperature had been continued until 2days in BV group, but 1day in BVP group. 2. The difference of temperature was significantly greater than time at 1hour in BV and at 5 minutes in BVP. 3. Other side-effects(the local pain, redness, angioedema and pruritus) were less appeared in BVP than BV group, too.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 2017

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to analyze the components of the clinically used bee venom (BV) pharmacopuncture. Methods : Two kinds of bee venom pharmacopuncture (BV-I and II), three kinds of separate purification BV (SPBV) pharmacopuncture (SPBV-I, II, and III), and apitoxin were investigated in this study. We performed a component analysis of melittin, apamin, and phospholipase $A_2$ using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results :1. BV-I contained approximately 40% more melittin than BV-II did. 2. In the three separate purification BV pharmacopuncture, SPBV-I, SPBV-II, and SPBV-III, phospholipase $A_2$ content decreased remarkably. 3. The melittin content in SPBV-I increased by 5% compared to that in BV-I. 4. The amount of melittin in apitoxin was similar to that in SPBV-I. Conclusion : The compositions of the BV pharmacopuncture and separate purification BV pharmacopuncture changed depending on the collection method and concentration. Therefore, it is necessary to choose the most suitable BV for each specific medical treatment target. Furthermore, research into the composition of BV may be needed for its safe and effective use.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.715-723
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• 1999

Bee venom (BV) has been traditionally applied to relieve pain and to cure inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and neuritis. While several investigators have evaluated the anti-inflammatory effect of BV treatment, the anti-nociceptive effect of BV treatment on inflammatory pain is not reported. Therefore, we decided to evaluate the analgesic effect of BV treatment using Freund's adjuvant induced chronic arthritis model. Freund's adjuvant-induced arthritis has been used as an experimental animal model for RA in humans to assess the efficacy of the anti-inflammatory/analgesic drugs. In this study, subcutaneous BV treatment (1mg/kg/day) produced significantly reductions of symptoms related to arthritic pain (i.e. mechanical hyperalgesia and thermal hyperalgesia). The anti-nociceptive effect of BV was observed from at least 12 days after BV treatment. Furthermore, BV treatment significantly suppressed adjuvant induced Fos expression in lumbar spinal cord. We also found that local injection of BV into near the inflammatory site (especially Zusanli-acupoint) showed more potent analgesic effect on arthritic pain rather than distant injection of BV from inflammatory site (arbitrary side of back). The present study demonstrates that BV treatment has anti-nociceptive effect on arthritis induced inflammatory pain. The analgesic effect of BV on RA is probably mediated by the effect of BV itself or possible other mechanism such as counter-irritation. Furthermore, it is possible that BV acupuncture is one of the promising candidates for long-term therapy of RA.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.19-28
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• 2017

Polydnaviruses (PDVs) are a group of double-stranded DNA viruses symbiotic to some endoparasitoid wasps. Cotesia plutellae bracovirus (CpBV) is a PDV symbiotic to an endoparasitoid wasp, C. plutellae, parasitizing young larvae of Plutella xylostella. An early expressed gene, CpBV-ELP1, plays an important role in the parasitism by suppressing host cellular immunity by its cytotoxic activity against hemocytes. This study aimed to test its oral toxicity against insect pest by expressing it in a recombinant tobacco plant. A recombinant CpBV-ELP1 protein was produced using a baculovirus expression system and secreted to cell culture medium. The cell cultured media were used to purify CpBV-ELP1 by a sequential array of purification steps: ammonium sulfate fractionation, size exclusion chromatography, and ion exchange chromatography. Purified rCpBV-ELP1 exhibited a significant cytotoxicity against Spodoptera exigua hemocytes. CpBV-ELP1 was highly toxic to the fifth instar larvae of S. exigua by injection to hemocoel. It also showed a significant oral toxicity to fifth instar larvae of S. exigua by a leaf-dipping assay. CpBV-ELP1 was cloned into pBI121 vector under CaMV 35S promoter with opaline synthase terminator. Resulting recombinant vector (pBI121-ELP1) was used to transform Agrobacterium tumefaciens LBA4404. The recombinant bacteria were then used to induce callus of a tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum Xanthi) leaves and subsequent generation (T1) plants were selected. T1 generation tobacco plants expressing CpBV-ELP1 gave significant insecticidal activities against S. exigua larvae. These results suggest that CpBV-ELP1 gene can be used to control insect pests by constructing transgenic crops.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.43 no.3 s.136
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• pp.217-223
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• 2004

Polydnavirus is a symbiotic virus of some endoparasitic wasps and plays crucial roles in inhibiting immune responses and retarding development of the parasitized hosts. Cotesia plutellae bracovirus (CpBV) is a polydnavirus suggesting a major causative to change developmental physiology of the parasitized host. Here, we investigated whether CpBV can interrupt development of non-natural host. Beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua, is used as a non-permissible host for parasitization of C. plutellae. Extract from the calyx region of C. plutellae contained CpBV, which was confirmed by immunoblotting with a polyclonal antibody raised against CpBV. One female equivalent of CpBV extract was injected into hemocoel of late 4th instar larvae of S. exigua. The injected larvae showed delayed larval period, decrease of body weight gain, and inability of pupal metamorphosis. These inhibitory effect of the CpBV extract was rescued by injection along with CpBV antibody, though the antibody itself did not give any effect on development of the larvae. This result clearly shows that CpBV can interrupt developmental physiology of a non-natural host for its symbiotic wasp.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.117-127
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• 2008

Objective: Bee venom (BV) has been used for the treatment of inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and relief of pain in Oriental medicine. The two main components of BV are melittin and phospholipase A2 (PLA2). Of these, melittin, the major active ingredient of BV, has been reported to induce apoptosis and to possess anti tumor effects. Several studies have established that the agents inducing apoptosis in target organs suppress tumorigenesis. As the other component, PLA2 has been reported to induce neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells. However, there was no report about proliferative effect of BV in neuronal cells. In order to examine the effect of BV on glioma cell, human glioma cell line, U87 was used. Methods: Analysis of proliferation was confirmed by MTT assay. BV increased cell number through dose and duration dependent manner and these effects are apparent at a concentration of 10 ug/ml. To observe which signaling molecules will be activated by BV, phosphorylation of Akt, MAPK, PYK2 or CREB were examined by Western blot analysis. To study the long term effect of BV in U87 cells, the image of cells treated with BV for 4 days were obtained. Results: The phosphorylation levels of PYK2 and Akt were increased at 5 min after addition of 10 ug/ml of BV and sustained to 2 hours. On the other hand, phosphorylation of MAPK and CREB were increased at 5 min, maximum at 10 min, and returned to 30 min. These imply that BV may activate two different signaling pathways, PYK2/Akt and MAPK/CREB. BV treated cells showed increased neurite number and length. Conclusion: These results propose that BV may induce differentiation as well as proliferation of U87 cells through the activation of PYK2/ Akt and MAPK/ CREB.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.92-98
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• 2013

Bee Venom(below BV) has been used in alternative medicine to treat the diseases, such as pain diseases. BV contains a variety of peptides, including melittin, apamin, adolapin, MCD peptide, enzymes(i.e. PLA2), amines(i.e. histamine and epinephrine), and nonpeptide components. The two main components of BV are melittin and PLA2. The cell cytotoxic effects through the activation of PLA2 by melittin have been suggested to be the critical mechanism for the depress of cancer cell. Melittin and PLA2 have been reported to induce apoptosis and to possess anti-cancer effects and neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells. Analysis of proliferation was confirmed by MTT assay. BV decreased cell number through dose- and duration-dependent manner and these effects are apparent at a concentration of 3 ${\mu}g/ml$. To observe which signaling molecules will be activated by BV, phosphorylation of ERK, p38 MAPK, JNK and ERM were examined by Western blot analysis. To study the long term effect of BV in human gastric adenocarcinoma cell lines, the image of cells treated with BV for 4 days were obtained. BV was shown to exhibit anti-cancer activity in human gastric adenocarcinoma cell lines at a broad range of concentrations of 3 ${\mu}g/ml$. ERK, p38 MAPK and JNK were found to increase in BV treated cells. However, ERM which known to be involved in the cell death, was gradually decreased to 30minutes after addition 3 ${\mu}g/ml$ of BV. These results provide a possible BV-induced inhibitory signal for cancer proliferation that is initiated by the decrease in ERM activity. Moreover, it is likely that the activation of ERK, p38 MAPK and JNK are required for the BV-induced inhibition of cancer proliferation.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.80-87
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• 2019

Background: This study investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of bee venom (BV) through the inhibition of nuclear factor kappa beta ($NF-{\kappa}B$) expression in macrophages and keratinocytes. Methods: Cell viability assays were performed to investigate the cytotoxicity of BV in activated macrophages [lipopolysaccharide (LPS)] and keratinocytes [interferon-gamma/tumor necrosis factor-alpha ($IFN-{\gamma}/TNF-{\alpha}$)]. A luciferase assay was performed to investigate the cellular expression of $NF-{\kappa}B$ in relation to BV dose. The expression of $NF-{\kappa}B$ inhibitors ($p-I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$, $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$, and p50 and p65) were determined by Western Blot analysis, and the electromobility shift assay. A nitrite quantification assay was performed to investigate the effect of BV, and $NF-{\kappa}B$ inhibitor on nitric oxide (NO) production in macrophages. In addition, Western Blot analysis was performed to investigate the effect of BV on the expression of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) in activated macrophages and keratinocytes. Results: BV was not cytotoxic to activated macrophages and keratinocytes. Transcriptional activity of $NF-{\kappa}B$, and p50, p65, and $p-I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ expression was reduced by treatment with BV in activated macrophages and keratinocytes. Treatment with BV and an $NF-{\kappa}B$ inhibitor, reduced the production of NO by activated macrophages, and also reduced $NF-{\kappa}B$ transcriptional activity in activated keratinocytes (compared with either BV, or $NF-{\kappa}B$ inhibitor treatment). Furthermore, BV decreased p38, p-p38, JNK, and p-JNK expression in LPS-activated macrophages and $IFN-{\gamma}/TNF-{\alpha}$-activated keratinocytes. Conclusion: BV blocked the signaling pathway of $NF-{\kappa}B$, which plays an important role in the inflammatory response in macrophages and keratinocytes. These findings provided the possibility of BV in the treatment of atopic dermatitis.

• BMB Reports
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.279-283
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• 2010

Polydnavirus genome is segmented and dispersed on host wasp chromosome. After replication, the segments form double- stranded circular DNAs and embedded in viral coat proteins. These viral particles are delivered into a parasitized host along with parasitoid eggs. A serine-rich protein (SRP) is predicted in a polydnavirus, Cotesia plutellae bracovirus (CpBV), genome in its segment no. 33 (CpBV-S33), creating CpBV-SRP1. This study explored its expression and physiological function in the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella, larvae parasitized by C. plutellae. CpBV-SRP1 encodes 122 amino acids with 26 serines and several predicted phosphorylation sites. It is persistently expressed in all tested tissues of parasitized P. xylostella including hemocyte, fat body, and gut. Its physiological function was analyzed by injecting CpBV-S33 and inducing its expression in nonparasitized P. xylostella by a technique called SERI (segment expression and RNA interference). The expression of CpBV-SRP1 significantly impaired the spreading behavior and total cell count of hemocytes of treated larvae. Subsequent RNA interference of CpBV-SRP1 rescued the immunosuppressive response. This study reports the persistent expression of CpBV-SRP1 in a parasitized host and its parasitic role in suppressing the host immune response by altering hemocyte behavior and survival.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.610-615
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• 2009

As a provirus, polydnavirus has a segmented DNA genome on chromosome(s) of host wasp. It contains several genes in each segment that presumably play critical roles in regulating physiological processes of target insect parasitized by the wasp. A cysteine-rich protein 1 (CRP1) is present in the polydnavirus Cotesia plutellae bracovirus (CpBV) genome, but its expression and physiological function in Plutella xylostella parasitized by the viral host C. plutellae is not known. This CpBV-CRP1 encoding 189 amino acids with a putative signal peptide (20 residues) was persistently expressed in parasitized P. xylostella with gradual decrease at the late parasitization period. Expression of CpBV-CRP1 was tissue-specific in the fat body/epidermis and hemocyte, but not in the gut. Its physiological function was analyzed by inducing transient expression of a CpBV segment containing CpBV-CRP1 and its promoter, which caused significant reduction in hemocyte -spreading and delayed larval development. When the treated larvae were co-injected with double-stranded RNA of CpBV-CRP1, the expression of CpBV-CRP1 disappeared, whereas other genes encoded in the CpBV segment was expressed. These co-injected larvae significantly recovered the hemocyte-spreading capacity and larval development rate. This study reports that CpBV-CRP1 is expressed in P. xylostella parasitized by C. plutellae and its physiological function is to alter the host immune and developmental processes.