Background:
Melittin, the major medicinal component of honeybee venom, exerts antiinflammatory,
analgesic, and anti-arthritic effects in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). RA is an
inflammatory autoimmune joint disease that leads to irreversible joint destruction and functional loss.
Fibroblast-Like Synoviocytes (FLS) are dominant, special mesenchymal cells characterized by the
structure of the synovial intima, playing a crucial role in both the initiation and progression of RA.
Objective:
In this study, we evaluated the effects of melittin on the viability and apoptosis of FLS isolated
from patients with RA.
Methods:
Cell viability was determined using CCK-8 assays; apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry,
and the expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins (caspase-3, caspase-9, BAX, and Bcl-2)
were also determined. To explore whether melittin alters inflammatory processes in RA-FLS, IL-1β
levels were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Furthermore, we performed
GFP-LC3 punctate fluorescence dot assays and western blotting (for LC3, ATG5, p62, and Beclin
1) to assess autophagy in RA-FLS.
Results:
Our results show that melittin can significantly impair viability, promote apoptosis and autophagy,
and inhibit IL-1β secretion in RA-FLS.
Conclusion:
Melittin may be useful in preventing damage to the joints during accidental local stimulation.
