Effect of bee venom on TrkA and TRPV1 in dorsal root ganglia of rats with collagen-induced arthritis and inflammatory pain

  Objective: To investigate the effect of bee venom on TrkA and TRPV1 pain signaling molecules in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rats.

  Method: Divided into normal control group, model group, and bee venom group (BV, 3 mg/mL). Wistar male adult rats, Collagen Ⅱ+IFA 0.2 mL were used for modeling. The BV group was administered 14 days after the model was established until 21 days; the thickness of the foot plantar, pain threshold and swollen joint scores of each group were recorded. The dorsal root ganglion was used to observe the expression of TRPV1 in pathological sections and western boltting to observe the expression of TrkA. To evaluate the intervention of bee venom on the ankle joint of CIA rats.

  Result: The model began to swell from the 10th day, and all signs of CIA appeared within 14 days. The thickness of the foot and the swollen joints showed an overall increasing trend. It stabilized at 14 d. The BV group was treated with bee venom 0.3 mg for 7 days. The thickness of the foot and the swollen joints of the BV group were lower than those of the model group. Pain threshold (seconds): normal control group 15.47±0.35, model group 10.90±0.10, BV group 13.14±0.18. Immunohistochemistry TRPV1 positive cell percentage (%): normal control group 11.40±1.48, model group 44.47±4.38, BV group 21.60±2.20. Western blotting observed TrkA expression (gray value): normal control group 1.59±0.04, model group 4.53±0.21, BV group 2.46±0.17.

  Conclusion: Bee venom injection can reduce the expression levels of DRG signaling molecules TrkA and TRPV1 in rats with inflammatory pain. This may be one of the signal pathways for anti-inflammatory and analgesic, providing new inspiration for bee venom to treat rheumatoid arthritis.