Inhibitory effect of honey bee venom on immune complex mediated leukocyte migration into rabbit knee-joints.

The anti-inflammatory effect of purified honey bee venom (HBV) was studied using a recently described animal model in which preformed immune complexes were injected into rabbit knee-joints. As little as a single injection of 1.2 micrograms HBV/kg body weight subcutaneously significantly reduced the immune complex induced joint inflammation as measured by reduction in leukocyte counts in the joint fluid. This decrease was obvious 3 and 6 but not 9 hours after induction of the inflammation. There was no significant effect on leukocyte random migration, chemotactic responsiveness or phagocytosis, indicating that HBV did not interfere with normal phagocyte motility and ingestion. The modifying effects by HBV on the inflammatory response to immune complexes in vivo is most likely due to interference with other components of the inflammatory response.