Bee Venom May Help Treat Parkinson's Disease

Neuro-Protective Effects of Bee Venom by Suppression of NeuroinflammatoryResponses in a Mouse Model of Parkinson's Disease: Role of Regulatory T CellsBrain Behav Immun, 2012 Sep 5In the present study, we sought to determine whether beevenom (BV) promotes the survival of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) mouse model of Parkinson'sdisease (PD). Treatment with BV prevented degeneration of DA neurons inthe substantia nigra (SN). This neuro-protective effect of BV was associatedwith microglial deactivation and reduction of CD4 T cell infiltration.Additionally, BV treatment significantly increased the proportion ofCD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) Tregs in vivo and in vitro. The increased proportion ofTregs by BV treatment remained suppressive activity ex vivo. Interestingly, BVtreatment did not prevent MPTP neurotoxicity in mice depleted of Tregs by anti-CD25antibody injection. Therefore, our present studies suggest that modulation ofperipheral immune tolerance by Treg may contribute to the neuroprotectiveeffect of BV in the MPTP model of Parkinson's disease.