Pulmonary prophylactic impact of bee venom against alterations induced by gamma irradiation via TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway in rats

Abstract

The present work targets to clarify pulmonary protective outcomes of Honey bee venom against the high dose of γ- radiation via revealing the effect of lung receptors [toll- like receptors (TLR4)], [Growth factor beta (TGF-β)], [Interleukin 1-beta (IL-1β) and [Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), as inflammatory mediators. Wistar Albino male rats were intraperitoneally administered 10 consecutive doses of bee venom (5 μg/g i.p. for 10 days), followed by exposure to high dose of γ-radiation [8 gy]. Expression of TLR4 and its downstream modulator NF-kB were markedly elevated. Consequently, expression of pro-fibrogenic cytokine TGF-β and inflammatory cytokines IL-1B were induced in irradiated rats. Furthermore, there was a marked disturbance in the activity of some pathophysiological enzymes and uric acid level. Bee venom causes pulmonary protection against high dose of gamma radiation via its effects on [IL-1B, TGF-β, NF-κB and TLR]. our findings exhibit the importance of bee venom as a future treatment in lung injury via its potential positive effects on the TLR4/NF-kB pathway, which considered as significant inflammatory mediators in lung injury. This opens the medical field for future studies that can improve the lifestyle of patients who suffer from lung injury and complications.

Keywords:

• Bee venom
• TLR4
• NF-κB
• γ-irradiation
• lung

Acknowledgements

Prof. Dr. Ahmed Osman, Pathology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, was responsible for the inspection of lung sections in this study, which was completed by the authors.

Author contributions

Authors shared in all steps to finish the research paper.

Disclosure statement

There are no conflicts of interest reported by the author(s).