Bee venom modulates murine Th1/Th2 lineage development.

Administration of bee venom (BV) elicits anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive and anti-allergic effects in various animal models. This study was designed to evaluate the direct effects of BV on helper T cell activities and on Th1/Th2 lineage development using both in vitro and in vivo conditions. In the Th1 skewed condition, BV increased the expression of IFN-gamma mRNA and enhanced the expression of T-bet on purified CD4(+) T cells from splenocytes of BALB/c mice. On the other hand, BV treatment did not alter the expression of IL-4 or GATA-3 in a Th2 driven environment. To elucidate the effects of BV on Th1/Th2 lineage development under in vivo conditions, BV was given by intraperitonial injection to BALB/c mice. It significantly increased the CD4(+) T cell population and enhanced IFN-gamma expression, while IL-4 transcripts were not altered upon in vivo activation using an anti-CD3 antibody injection. Taken together, these results imply that BV induces Th1 lineage development from CD4(+) T cells by increasing the expression of a Th1-specific cytokine, IFN-gamma. In addition, this result may be mediated by inducing a Th1-specific transcription factor, T-bet.