Bee Venom Suppresses Parkinson's Disease

Bee venom has interesting effects on the body. It produces an effect locally (good for aching joints) and systemically (stimulating adrenal glands), which is why I consider those unexpected bee stings a boost for my immune system...

Neuroprotective Effects of Bee Venom by suppression of Neuroinflammatory Responses in Mouse Model of Parkinson’s Disease: Role of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Regulatory T Cells

Journal of Immunology, 2012, May

Abstract:  

In the present study, we examined whether bee venom (BV) promotes the survival of nigrostriatal dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the MPTP-induced Parkinson’s disease (PD) mice model.

Treatment of BV prevented degeneration of nigrostriatal DA neurons, increased striatal dopamine levels, and improved motor function. This neuroprotection afforded by bee venom was associated with the suppression of microglia and inhibition of recruitment of CD4+ T cells.

Additionally, CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg cells were significantly increased in vivo and in vitro after treatment of BV.

Therefore, we carefully propose that neuroprotection of BV might be associated with its anti-inflammatory properties and could be employed as novel therapeutic agents for PD and other disorders associated with neuroinflammation.