PMID- 26825274 OWN - NLM STAT- MEDLINE DCOM- 20160913 LR - 20181113 IS - 1472-6882 (Electronic) IS - 1472-6882 (Linking) VI - 16 DP - 2016 Jan 29 TI - Bee venom acupuncture alleviates trimellitic anhydride-induced atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions in mice. PG - 38 LID - 10.1186/s12906-016-1019-y [doi] LID - 38 AB - BACKGROUND: Bee venom acupuncture (BVA), a novel type of acupuncture therapy in which purified bee venom is injected into the specific acupuncture point on the diseased part of the body, is used primarily for relieving pain and other musculoskeletal symptoms. In the present study, therapeutic potential of BVA to improve atopic dermatitis, a representative allergic dysfunction, was evaluated in the mouse model of trimellitic anhydride (TMA)-induced skin impairment. METHODS: Mice were treated with 5% TMA on the dorsal flank for sensitization and subsequently treated with 2% TMA on the dorsum of both ears for an additional 12 days after a 3-day interval. From the 7(th) day of 2% TMA treatment, bilateral subcutaneous injection of BV (BV, 0.3 mg/kg) was performed daily at BL40 acupuncture points (located behind the knee) 1 h before 2% TMA treatment for 5 days. RESULTS: BVA treatment markedly inhibited the expression levels of both T helper cell type 1 (Th1) and Th2 cytokines in ear skin and lymph nodes of TMA-treated mice. Clinical features of AD-like symptoms such as ear skin symptom severity and thickness, inflammation, and lymph node weight were significantly alleviated by BV treatment. BV treatment also inhibited the proliferation and infiltration of T cells, the production of Th1 and Th2 cytokines, and the synthesis of interleukin (IL)-4 and immunoglobulin E (IgE)-typical allergic Th2 responses in blood. The inhibitory effect of BVA was more pronounced at BL40 acupoint than non-acupuncture point located at the base of the tail. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that BV injection at specific acupuncture points effectively alleviates AD-like skin lesions by inhibiting inflammatory and allergic responses in a TMA-induced contact hypersensitivity mouse model. FAU - Sur, Bongjun AU - Sur B AD - Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Hoegi-ding, Dongdaemoon-gu, Seoul, 130-701, Republic of Korea. FAU - Lee, Bombi AU - Lee B AD - Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Hoegi-ding, Dongdaemoon-gu, Seoul, 130-701, Republic of Korea. FAU - Yeom, Mijung AU - Yeom M AD - Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Hoegi-ding, Dongdaemoon-gu, Seoul, 130-701, Republic of Korea. FAU - Hong, Ju-Hee AU - Hong JH AD - Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Hoegi-ding, Dongdaemoon-gu, Seoul, 130-701, Republic of Korea. FAU - Kwon, Sunoh AU - Kwon S AD - Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Hoegi-ding, Dongdaemoon-gu, Seoul, 130-701, Republic of Korea. FAU - Kim, Seung-Tae AU - Kim ST AD - Division of Meridian and Structural Medicine, School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, 628-870, Republic of Korea. FAU - Lee, Hyang Sook AU - Lee HS AD - Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Hoegi-ding, Dongdaemoon-gu, Seoul, 130-701, Republic of Korea. AD - The Graduate School of Basic Science of Korean Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 130-701, Republic of Korea. FAU - Park, Hi-Joon AU - Park HJ AD - Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Hoegi-ding, Dongdaemoon-gu, Seoul, 130-701, Republic of Korea. AD - The Graduate School of Basic Science of Korean Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 130-701, Republic of Korea. FAU - Lee, Hyejung AU - Lee H AD - Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Hoegi-ding, Dongdaemoon-gu, Seoul, 130-701, Republic of Korea. AD - The Graduate School of Basic Science of Korean Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 130-701, Republic of Korea. FAU - Hahm, Dae-Hyun AU - Hahm DH AD - Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Hoegi-ding, Dongdaemoon-gu, Seoul, 130-701, Republic of Korea. dhhahm@khu.ac.kr. AD - The Graduate School of Basic Science of Korean Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 130-701, Republic of Korea. dhhahm@khu.ac.kr. LA - eng PT - Journal Article PT - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't DEP - 20160129 PL - England TA - BMC Complement Altern Med JT - BMC complementary and alternative medicine JID - 101088661 RN - 0 (Anti-Allergic Agents) RN - 0 (Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal) RN - 0 (Bee Venoms) RN - 0 (Cytokines) RN - 0 (Phthalic Anhydrides) RN - 207137-56-2 (Interleukin-4) RN - 37341-29-0 (Immunoglobulin E) RN - 80T61EUU7H (trimellitic anhydride) SB - IM MH - Acupuncture Points MH - *Acupuncture Therapy MH - Animals MH - Anti-Allergic Agents/therapeutic use MH - Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/therapeutic use MH - Bee Venoms/*therapeutic use MH - Cytokines/biosynthesis MH - Dermatitis, Atopic/chemically induced/immunology/pathology/*therapy MH - Disease Models, Animal MH - Immunoglobulin E/blood MH - Interleukin-4/blood MH - Lymph Nodes/immunology MH - Male MH - Mice MH - Mice, Inbred BALB C MH - Phthalic Anhydrides MH - T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer/immunology PMC - PMC4731956 EDAT- 2016/01/31 06:00 MHDA- 2016/09/14 06:00 PMCR- 2016/01/29 CRDT- 2016/01/31 06:00 PHST- 2015/06/03 00:00 [received] PHST- 2016/01/27 00:00 [accepted] PHST- 2016/01/31 06:00 [entrez] PHST- 2016/01/31 06:00 [pubmed] PHST- 2016/09/14 06:00 [medline] PHST- 2016/01/29 00:00 [pmc-release] AID - 10.1186/s12906-016-1019-y [pii] AID - 1019 [pii] AID - 10.1186/s12906-016-1019-y [doi] PST - epublish SO - BMC Complement Altern Med. 2016 Jan 29;16:38. doi: 10.1186/s12906-016-1019-y.