Accidents with venomous bees are a serious worldwide health concern. Since the kidney has been reported as the main venom-target organ, the present study was undertaken to investigate the in vivo nephrotoxic effect of Algerian bee venom (ABV) (Apis mellifera intermissa) collected in the middle east of Algeria. A preliminary study was performed on ABV to identify the ABV using SDS-PAGE analysis and to determine the in vivo intraperitoneal median lethal dose (LD50) using the Probit analysis test. In vivo nephrotoxic effect was assessed through the determination of physiological and kidney biochemical markers in mice intraperitoneally injected with ABV at doses of 0.76 (D1); 1.14 (D2) and 2.29 mg/kg body weight (bwt) (D3), corresponding respectively to LD50/15, LD50/10, and LD50/5 (i.p. LD50=11.48 mg/kg bwt) for seven consecutive days. Results revealed a marked decrease in body weight gain and food intake, and an increase in absolute and relative kidney weights in ABV D2 and D3 treated mice compared with controls. Furthermore, ABV D2 and D3 resulted in a significant increase in serum creatinine, urea, and uric acid. ABV-induced oxidative stress was evidenced by a significant increase in kidney MDA level, and a significant depletion in kidney GSH level, and catalase activity. Meanwhile, no marked changes in the above-mentioned parameters were noticed in ABV D1. Accordingly, the adverse nephrotoxic effect of ABV was proved by the dose-dependent kidney histological changes. In summary, the results of the present study evidence that ABV at doses of 1.14 (D2) and 2.28 mg/kg body weight (bwt) can cause marked changes in kidney biochemical and major antioxidant markers, and histological architecture.
- MeSH
- antioxidancia farmakologie MeSH
- ledviny MeSH
- myši MeSH
- oxidační stres MeSH
- tělesná hmotnost MeSH
- včelí jedy * toxicita metabolismus MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- myši MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
In this study, the biochemical and physiological features of the firebug Pyrrhocoris apterus were investigated to understand the impact of the honeybee Apis mellifera venom on them using physiological methods (mortality, total level of metabolism), biochemical methods (ELISA, mass spectrometry, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, spectrophotometry) and molecular methods (real-time PCR). Together, the obtained findings suggest that venom injection increased the level of adipokinetic hormone (AKH) in the CNS of P. apterus, indicating that this hormone plays a key role in activating defence responses. Furthermore, histamine levels in the gut increased significantly after envenomation and did not seem to be modulated by AKH. In contrast, histamine levels in the haemolymph increased after treatment with AKH and AKH + venom. In addition, we found that vitellogenin levels in haemolymph decreased in both males and females after venom application. Lipids, which are the main energy metabolites used by Pyrrhocoris, were significantly exhausted from the haemolymph after the administration of venom and the co-application with AKH reversed this effect. However, we did not find much influence on the effect of digestive enzymes after the injection of venom. Our research has highlighted the noticeable effect of bee venom on P. apterus' body and provided new insights into the role of AKH in controlling defensive responses. However, it is also likely that there will be alternative defence mechanisms.
Úvod: Alergia na jed blanokrídleho hmyzu je druhou najčastejšou príčinou anafylaxie detského veku. V súčasnosti jediná kauzálna terapia, ktorá môže navodiť toleranciu, je venómová imunoterapia (VIT). Ciele: V našej práci sme sa zamerali na analýzu vybraných klinických a laboratórnych charakteristík v skupine pediatrických pacientov s alergiou na jed blanokrídleho hmyzu liečených VIT. Materiál a metódy: Vytvorili sme prospektívnu štúdiu, do ktorej bolo postupne zaradených 20 detských pacientov (13 chlapcov, 7 dievčat), ktorí spĺňali indikačné kritéria pre VIT. Dáta boli zberané od roku 2015 do roku 2022. Definovali sme základnú charakteristiku súboru, zamerali sme sa na celkovú toleranciu liečby u pediatrických pacientov a výskyt vedľajších účinkov počas podávania VIT, taktiež sme vykonali odber krvi na stanovanie dynamiky laboratórnych imunologických parametrov v presne stanovených časových intervaloch. Výsledky: Priemerný vek bol 11 ± 4,37 rokov, pričom priemerný vek prvej systémovej reakcie po bodnutí bol 9,15 ± 3,58 rokov. Z 20 zaradených pacientov bolo 14 alergických na jed včely a 6 na jed osy. VIT bola priemerne začatá vo veku 10 ± 3,86 rokov, z toho 2 pacienti ju začali ešte pred dovŕšením piateho roku života. Medzi najčastejšie zastúpené klinické prejavy systémovej reakcie v našom súbore patrili angioedém tváre (70 %), dyspnoe (65 %), urtikária (55 %) a celotelový pruritus (45 %). Výskyt vedľajších príhod po VIT sme najčastejšie pozorovali počas úvodnej fázy podávania v zmysle lokálnych reakcií, pričom u žiadneho pacienta nedošlo k rozvoju systémovej reakcie. Prirodzená reexpozícia počas VIT sa vyskytla u 25 % pacientov, pričom u žiadneho sa nerozvinula systémová reakcia. V priebehu VIT sme zaznamenali aj dynamické zmeny jednotlivých hodnotených laboratórnych parametrov s postupným poklesom špecifických IgE proti extraktu a alergénovým komponentom hmyzieho jedu a vzostup špecifických IgG4 proti alergénovému extraktu. Záver: Alergiu na jed blanokrídleho hmyzu radíme medzi závažný až život ohrozujúci stav, pričom v súčasnosti jediná možná terapia, ktorou môžeme predchádzať vzniku systémovej reakcie a zlepšiť kvalitu života pacientom je VIT. U detských pacientov je udávaná vyššia účinnosť VIT a taktiež nižšie riziko zlyhania liečby. Naše skúsenosti dokladujú účinnosť aj bezpečnosť VIT v detskom veku a zároveň potvrdzujú pozitívne zmeny v laboratórnych parametroch naznačujúce indukciu imunitnej tolerancie.
Introduction: Hymenoptera venom allergy is second most common cause of anaphylaxis in childhood. Currenty, the only causal therapy that can induce tolerance is venom immunotherapy (VIT). Aim: In our work, we focused on the analysis of selected clinical and laboratory characteristics in a group of pediatric patients with hymenoptera venom allergy treated with VIT. Material and methods: We created a prospective study in which we gradually included 20 pediatric patients (13 boys, 7 girls), which fulfilled indication criteria for VIT. Data were collected from 2015 to 2022. We defined the basic characteristics of the set, we focused on the overall tolerance of treatment in pediatric patients and the occurance of adverse effects during VIT administration, we also performed blood sampling to determine the dynamics of immunological laboratory parameters in precisely determined time intervals. Results: The mean age was 11 ± 4,37 years, with the mean age of firts systemic reactions after the hymenoptera sting 9,15 ± 3,58 years. Of the 20 enrolled patients, 14 were allergic to bee venom and 6 to waps venom. VIT was started at an average age of 10 ± 3,86 years, of which 2 patients started before the fifth year of life. The most frequently represented clinical manifestations of systemic reaction in our group were facial angioedema (70 %), dyspnea (65 %), urticaria (55 %) and whole body pruritus (45 %). We observed the occurence of the adverse effects most often during the initial phase of administration in terms of local reactions, whereas no patient developed a systemic reaction. Spontaneus re-exposure during VIT occured in 25 % of patients, whereas no patient developed a systemic reaction. During VIT we also noted dynamic changes in individual evaluated laboratory parameters with a gradual decrease of specific IgE against the extract and allergen component of hymenoptera venom and increase of specific IgG4 against the allergen extract. Conclusion: Allergy to hymenoptera venom is classified as a serious to life-threating condition, while the only possible therapy nowadays that can prevent systemic reaction and improve the patient´s quality of life is VIT. A higher effectiveness of VIT and also a lower risk of treatment failure are described in pediatric patients. Our experencie clearly proves the effectiveness and safety of VIT in childhood and at the same time confirms positive changes in laboratory parameters indicating the induction of immune tolerance.
- MeSH
- alergie terapie MeSH
- imunoterapie metody MeSH
- kousnutí a bodnutí hmyzem * patologie terapie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- předškolní dítě MeSH
- prospektivní studie MeSH
- včelí jedy škodlivé účinky terapeutické užití MeSH
- vosí jedy škodlivé účinky terapeutické užití MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- předškolní dítě MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
Alcohols are a part of cellular metabolism, but their physiological roles are not well understood. We investigated the effects of short-chain alcohols on Daphnia pulex and model membranes mimicking the lipid composition of eukaryotic inner mitochondrial membranes. We also studied the synergistic effects of alcohols with the bee venom membrane-active peptide, melittin, which is structurally similar to endogenous membrane-active peptides. The alcohols, from ethanol to octanol, gradually decreased the heart rate and the mitochondrial ATP synthesis of daphnia; in contrast, in combination with melittin, which exerted no sizeable effect, they gradually increased both the heart rate and the ATP synthesis. Lipid packing and the order parameter of oriented films, monitored by EPR spectroscopy of the spin-labeled probe 5-doxylstrearic acid, revealed gradual alcohol-assisted bilayer to non-bilayer transitions in the presence of melittin; further, while the alcohols decreased, in combination with melittin they increased the order parameter of the film, which is attributed to the alcohol-facilitated association of melittin with the membrane. A 1H-NMR spectroscopy of the liposomes confirmed the enhanced induction of a non-bilayer lipid phase that formed around the melittin, without the permeabilization of the liposomal membrane. Our data suggest that short-chain alcohols, in combination with endogenous peptides, regulate protein functions via modulating the lipid polymorphism of membranes.
A novel polyelectrolyte nanocarrier was synthesized via layer-by-layer self-assembly of polycationic and polyanionic chains. The nanocarrier is composed of polyglutamate grafted chitosan core, dextran sulfate as a complexing agent, and polyethyleneimine shell decorated with folic acid. This polyelectrolyte complex has unique physicochemical properties so that the core is considered as an efficient carrier for LTX-315 and melittin peptides, and the shell is suitable for delivery of miR-34a. The spherical nanocarriers with an average size of 123 ± 5 nm and a zeta potential of -36 ± 1 mV demonstrated controlled-release of gene and peptides ensured a synergistic effect in establishing multiple cell death pathways on chemoresistance human breast adenocarcinoma cell line, MDA-MB-231. In vitro cell viability assays also revealed no cytotoxicity for the nanocarriers, and an IC50 of 15 μg/mL and 150 μg/mL for melittin and LTX-315, respectively, after 48 h, whereas co-delivery of melittin with miR-34a increased smart death induction by 54%.
- MeSH
- buněčná smrt MeSH
- chitosan * MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- melitten farmakologie MeSH
- mikro RNA aplikace a dávkování genetika MeSH
- nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
- nádory prsu * farmakoterapie MeSH
- nanočástice * MeSH
- oligopeptidy MeSH
- polyelektrolyty MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
BACKGROUND: There is controversy whether taking β-blockers or ACE inhibitors (ACEI) is a risk factor for more severe systemic insect sting reactions (SSR) and whether it increases the number or severity of adverse events (AE) during venom immunotherapy (VIT). METHODS: In this open, prospective, observational, multicenter trial, we recruited patients with a history of a SSR and indication for VIT. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate whether patients taking β-blockers or ACEI show more systemic AE during VIT compared to patients without such treatment. RESULTS: In total, 1,425 patients were enrolled and VIT was performed in 1,342 patients. Of all patients included, 388 (27.2%) took antihypertensive (AHT) drugs (10.4% took β-blockers, 11.9% ACEI, 5.0% β-blockers and ACEI). Only 5.6% of patients under AHT treatment experienced systemic AE during VIT as compared with 7.4% of patients without these drugs (OR: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.43-1.22, p = 0.25). The severity of the initial sting reaction was not affected by the intake of β-blockers or ACEI (OR: 1.14, 95% CI: 0.89-1.46, p = 0.29). In total, 210 (17.7%) patients were re-stung during VIT and 191 (91.0%) tolerated the sting without systemic symptoms. Of the 19 patients with VIT treatment failure, 4 took β-blockers, none an ACEI. CONCLUSIONS: This trial provides robust evidence that taking β-blockers or ACEI does neither increase the frequency of systemic AE during VIT nor aggravate SSR. Moreover, results suggest that these drugs do not impair effectiveness of VIT. (Funded by Medical University of Graz, Austria; Clinicaltrials.gov number, NCT04269629).
- MeSH
- anafylaxe * MeSH
- desenzibilizace imunologická MeSH
- inhibitory ACE škodlivé účinky MeSH
- kousnutí a bodnutí hmyzem * MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- prospektivní studie MeSH
- rizikové faktory MeSH
- včelí jedy * MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- klinické zkoušky MeSH
- multicentrická studie MeSH
- pozorovací studie MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- MeSH
- alergeny aplikace a dávkování imunologie MeSH
- alergie diagnóza imunologie MeSH
- biologické markery krev MeSH
- dítě MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- fosfolipasy A aplikace a dávkování imunologie MeSH
- hmyzí proteiny aplikace a dávkování imunologie MeSH
- imunoglobulin E krev MeSH
- imunologické testy * MeSH
- kousnutí a bodnutí hmyzem diagnóza imunologie MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- mladý dospělý MeSH
- prediktivní hodnota testů MeSH
- rekombinantní proteiny aplikace a dávkování imunologie MeSH
- retrospektivní studie MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- včelí jedy imunologie MeSH
- vosí jedy imunologie MeSH
- Check Tag
- dítě MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- mladý dospělý MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- dopisy MeSH
- multicentrická studie MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
- Slovinsko MeSH
Alergie na včelí a vosí jed je u dospělých Evropanů jednou z nejčastějších příčin anafylaxe. Pro léčbu pacientů s diagnostikovanou alergií na hmyzí jed je určena vysoce efektivní specifická imunoterapie včelím/vosím jedem, která velmi výrazně snižuje riziko opakování alergické reakce po dalším bodnutí tímto hmyzem. Tato léčba je jednoznačně indikována dětem a dospělým, kteří po bodnutí prodělali těžkou či středně těžkou systémovou alergickou reakci. Navíc je určena i dospělým, kteří po bodnutí prodělali pouze generalizovanou kožní alergickou systémovou reakci, a to v případě vysokého rizika reexpozice hmyzímu bodnutí a/nebo narušení kvality života.
Hymenoptera venom allergy (HVA) is one of the most common causes of anaphylaxis in European adults. Highly effective bee/wasp venom immunotherapy (VIT) is available for the treatment of patients diagnosed with HVA. VIT significantly reduces the risk of another allergic sting reaction. VIT is indicated in children and adults with clinical history of moderate to severe systemic allergic sting reaction. Moreover, VIT is recommended also in adults with history of only generalized skin systemic allergic sting reaction, if risk of re‑exposition is high or quality of life is impaired.
- MeSH
- alergie etiologie MeSH
- imunoterapie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- včelí jedy antagonisté a inhibitory toxicita MeSH
- vosí jedy MeSH
- živočišné jedy * aplikace a dávkování MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- přehledy MeSH
- MeSH
- alergie * diagnóza patologie terapie MeSH
- desenzibilizace imunologická metody MeSH
- Hymenoptera * patogenita MeSH
- imunoglobulin E imunologie krev MeSH
- kousnutí a bodnutí hmyzem patologie terapie MeSH
- kožní testy metody MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- rizikové faktory MeSH
- včelí jedy aplikace a dávkování škodlivé účinky terapeutické užití MeSH
- vosí jedy aplikace a dávkování škodlivé účinky terapeutické užití MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- přehledy MeSH
Naturally occurring antimicrobial peptides and their synthetic analogues are promising candidates for new antifungal drugs. We focused on three groups of peptides isolated from the venom of bees and their synthetic analogues (lasioglossins, halictines and hylanines), which all rapidly permeabilised the plasma membrane. We compared peptides' potency against six pathogenic Candida species (C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis, C. krusei and C. dubliniensis) and the non-pathogenic model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Their activity was independent of the presence of the multidrug-resistant pumps of C. glabrata but was influenced by the lipid composition of cell plasma membranes. Although the direct interaction of the peptides with ergosterol was negligible in comparison with amphotericin B, the diminished ergosterol content after terbinafine pretreatment resulted in an increased resistance of C. glabrata to the peptides. The tested peptides strongly interacted with phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidic acid and cardiolipin and partly with phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylethanolamine. The interactions between predominantly anionic phospholipids and cationic peptides indicated a mainly electrostatic binding of peptides to the membranes. The results obtained also pointed to a considerable role of the components of lipid rafts (composed from sphingolipids and ergosterol) in the interaction of yeast cells with the peptides.
- MeSH
- antifungální látky farmakologie MeSH
- buněčná membrána účinky léků MeSH
- Candida účinky léků MeSH
- ergosterol metabolismus MeSH
- fungální léková rezistence účinky léků MeSH
- hmyz metabolismus MeSH
- membránové lipidy metabolismus MeSH
- mikrobiální testy citlivosti metody MeSH
- peptidy farmakologie MeSH
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae účinky léků MeSH
- včelí jedy farmakologie MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
