Search results for "Bee Venoms"
showing 4 items of 4 documents
Synthesis and comparison of the antiinflammatory activity of manoalide and cacospongionolide B analogues.
1998
We have synthesized analogues of two naturally occurring antiinflammatory marine compounds, manoalide and cacospongionolide B, containing a pyranofuranone moiety which is considered the pharmacophoric group. The two compounds, and hence their analogues, differ in the presence or absence in the dihydropyran ring of an hemiacetal function which was considered essential to irreversibly inactivate phospholipase A 2 (PLA 2 ). The two series of compounds were tested for their inhibitory effects on secretory PLA 2 belonging to the groups I, II, and III, and the activities were found to be similar in both series, irrespective of the presence or absence of the additional hemiacetal function. In addi…
Activation of bee venom phospholipase A2 through a peptide-enzyme complex
1995
AbstractPhospholipase A2 activation by membrane-bound peptides was investigated in order to understand the role of the membrane-induced conformation on activation, and to examine the occurrence of a peptide-enzyme complex at the lipid/water interface. For the peptides studies, bee venom phospholipase A2 was stimulated regardless of the membrane-bound conformation (α-helix, β-sheet or random coil). Using antisera raised against melittin, we were able to demonstrate the occurrence of a calcium-dependent complex involving the enzyme, phospholipid substrate, and peptide.
A molecular assembly system that renders antigens of choice highly repetitive for induction of protective B cell responses.
2002
Virus like particles (VLPs) are known to induce potent B cell responses in the absence of adjuvants. Moreover, epitope-specific antibody responses may be induced by VLPs that contain peptides inserted in their immunodominant regions. However, due to steric problems, the size of the peptides capable of being incorporated into VLPs while still permitting capsid assembly, is rather limited. While peptides genetically fused to either the N- or C-terminus of VLPs present fewer assembly problems, the immune responses obtained against such epitopes are often limited, most likely because the epitopes are not optimally exposed. In addition, such particles may be less stable in vivo. Here, we show th…
Insect venom immunotherapy induces interleukin-10 production and a Th2-to-Th1 shift, and changes surface marker expression in venom-allergic subjects.
1997
Abstract The current study was carried out to elucidate the immunoregulatory changes induced by venom immunotherapy (VIT) in bee or wasp allergic subjects. All subjects included in this study had a history of severe systemic allergic reactions to stings of the respective insect as well as positive skin tests with the respective venom or venom-specific IgE in the sera. Parameters assessed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) before and after initiation of VIT (rush therapy reaching a maintenance dose of 100 micrograms venom injected subcutaneously within 1 week) were expression of CD3, CD4, CD8, CD45RA, CD45RO, interleukin (IL)-2 receptor (R) alpha, IL-4R, IL-12R, Fc epsilon RII, CD4…