title: Honeybee apisimin and plant arabinogalactans in honey costimulate monocytes.
abstract: Here we determined whether immunostimulatory plant-derived arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) and the honeybee-derived protein apisimin are present in varieties of New Zealand honey. Apisimin is a protein of unknown function secreted from the glands of honeybees into Royal Jelly, forming a complex with apalbumin1 capable of stimulating lymphocyte proliferation. AGPs were abundant in kanuka honey with lesser amounts in manuka, kowhai and clover honeys, but absent from Royal Jelly. Apisimin was present in all honeys, as well as Royal Jelly. We report that apisimin shares with honey AGPs the ability to stimulate the release of TNF-α from blood monocytes. Further, it synergizes with AGPs to enhance the release of TNF-α, via a mechanism not involving the formation of a complex with AGPs. In summary, this study provides evidence that AGPs and apisimin are commonly present in different floral varieties of honey, and hence contribute to their immunostimulatory properties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine & Pathology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. Electronic address: s.gannabathula@auckland.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Swapna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gannabathula
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine & Pathology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. Electronic address: gw.krissansen@auckland.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Geoffrey W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Krissansen
authors.affiliation: Food Science Programme, School of Chemical Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. Electronic address: m.skinner@auckland.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Margot
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Skinner
authors.affiliation: Comvita New Zealand Ltd, Te Puke, New Zealand. Electronic address: Gregor.Steinhorn@comvita.com.
authors.forename: Gregor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Steinhorn
authors.affiliation: Comvita New Zealand Ltd, Te Puke, New Zealand. Electronic address: Ralf.Schlothauer@comvita.com.
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schlothauer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D006722:Honey / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D009088:Mucoproteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D009520:New Zealand; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology; D000099219:Royal Jelly
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D019476:Insect Proteins; D009088:Mucoproteins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000099219:Royal Jelly; C006619:arabinogalactan proteins
keywords: Apisimin; Arabinogalactan protein; Honey; Monocytes; TNF-α