title: Melittin inhibits inflammatory target gene expression and mediator generation via interaction with IkappaB kinase.
abstract: We previously found that bee venom (BV) and melittin (a major component of BV) has anti-inflammatory effect by reacting with the sulfhydryl group of p50 of NF-kappaB. Since the sulfhydryl group is present in IkappaB kinase (IKKalpha and IKKbeta), anti-inflammatory effect of melittin via interaction with IKKs was investigated. We first examined binding of melittin to IKKs using surface plasmon resonance analyzer. Melittin binds to IKKalpha (K(d) = 1.34 x 10(-9) M) and IKKbeta (K(d) = 1.01 x 10(-9) M). Consistent with the high binding affinity, melittin (5 and 10 microg/ml) and BV (0.5, 1 and 5 microg/ml) suppressed sodium nitroprusside, TNF-alpha and LPS induced-IKKbeta and IKKbeta activities, IkappaB release, and NF-kappaB activity as well as the expressions of iNOS and COX-2, and the generation of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) in Raw 264.7 mouse macrophages and synoviocytes obtained from rheumatoid arthritis patients. The binding affinities of melittin to mutant IKKs, was reduced, and the inhibitory effect of melittin on IKK and NF-kappaB activities, and NO and PGE(2) generation were abrogated by the reducing agents or in Raw 264.7 transfected with mutant plasmid IKKalpha (C178A) or IKKbeta (C179A). These results suggest that melittin binding to the sulfhydryl group of IKKs resulted in reduced IKK activities, IkappaB release, NF-kappaB activity and generation of inflammatory mediators, indicating that IKKs may be also anti-inflammatory targets of BV.
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Chungbuk National University, 12 Gaesin-dong, Heungduk-gu, Cheongju, Chungbuk 361-763, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hye Ji
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Dong Ju
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Chung Woo
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Myoung Suk
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Ung Soo
authors.initials: US
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ho Sueb
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Jeong Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jin Tae
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002460:Cell Line; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D051550:I-kappa B Kinase / Q000378:metabolism*; D008555:Melitten / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D011485:Protein Binding; D020349:Surface Plasmon Resonance
chemical_list: D008555:Melitten; D051550:I-kappa B Kinase