Melittin as a therapeutic agent for rheumatoid arthritis: mechanistic insights, advanced delivery systems, and future perspectives

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a condition characterized by joint deterioration through the action of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), is prevalent worldwide. Bee venom (BV) has traditionally been used in Chinese medicine for pain, arthritis, rheumatism, skin diseases, etc. BV is enriched with active s...

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Main Authors: Ashutosh Pareek, Khushbu Mehlawat, Kritika Tripathi, Aaushi Pareek, Simran Chaudhary, Yashumati Ratan, Vasso Apostolopoulos, Anil Chuturgoon
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-12-01
Series:Frontiers in Immunology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2024.1510693/full
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author Ashutosh Pareek
Khushbu Mehlawat
Kritika Tripathi
Aaushi Pareek
Simran Chaudhary
Yashumati Ratan
Vasso Apostolopoulos
Anil Chuturgoon
author_facet Ashutosh Pareek
Khushbu Mehlawat
Kritika Tripathi
Aaushi Pareek
Simran Chaudhary
Yashumati Ratan
Vasso Apostolopoulos
Anil Chuturgoon
author_sort Ashutosh Pareek
collection DOAJ
description Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a condition characterized by joint deterioration through the action of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), is prevalent worldwide. Bee venom (BV) has traditionally been used in Chinese medicine for pain, arthritis, rheumatism, skin diseases, etc. BV is enriched with active substances, notably melittin and phospholipase A2 (PLA2), offering significant therapeutic potential. Hence, the review summarizes current insights into BV’s composition, antiarthritic mechanism and pharmacological benefits, focusing on melittin. Constituting 50-60% of BV, melittin notably downregulates nuclear factor Kappa B (NF-κB) activity, inhibits MMP-1 and MMP-8, and diminishes tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), all of which contribute to the mitigation of type 2 collagen degradation. Despite its potential, melittin exhibits hemolytic activity and can significantly affect cell membranes, limiting its application, which poses a challenge to its therapeutic use. To overcome these challenges, delivery techniques utilizing nanocarriers and modifications in amino acid sequencing have been developed. Recent advancements in delivery systems, including nanocarriers, transdermal patches, and nanoemulsions, aim to minimize toxicity, expanding its therapeutic utility for RA. This article explores these novel strategies, underlining the evolving role of melittin in RA management.
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spelling doaj-art-f5888a03b65a4dc895d0131fa806d8f32024-12-20T06:29:07ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242024-12-011510.3389/fimmu.2024.15106931510693Melittin as a therapeutic agent for rheumatoid arthritis: mechanistic insights, advanced delivery systems, and future perspectivesAshutosh Pareek0Khushbu Mehlawat1Kritika Tripathi2Aaushi Pareek3Simran Chaudhary4Yashumati Ratan5Vasso Apostolopoulos6Anil Chuturgoon7Department of Pharmacy, Banasthali Vidyapith, Banasthali, IndiaDepartment of Pharmacy, Banasthali Vidyapith, Banasthali, IndiaDepartment of Pharmacy, Banasthali Vidyapith, Banasthali, IndiaDepartment of Pharmacy, Banasthali Vidyapith, Banasthali, IndiaDepartment of Pharmacy, Banasthali Vidyapith, Banasthali, IndiaDepartment of Pharmacy, Banasthali Vidyapith, Banasthali, IndiaSchool of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, AustraliaDiscipline of Medical Biochemistry, School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South AfricaRheumatoid arthritis (RA), a condition characterized by joint deterioration through the action of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), is prevalent worldwide. Bee venom (BV) has traditionally been used in Chinese medicine for pain, arthritis, rheumatism, skin diseases, etc. BV is enriched with active substances, notably melittin and phospholipase A2 (PLA2), offering significant therapeutic potential. Hence, the review summarizes current insights into BV’s composition, antiarthritic mechanism and pharmacological benefits, focusing on melittin. Constituting 50-60% of BV, melittin notably downregulates nuclear factor Kappa B (NF-κB) activity, inhibits MMP-1 and MMP-8, and diminishes tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), all of which contribute to the mitigation of type 2 collagen degradation. Despite its potential, melittin exhibits hemolytic activity and can significantly affect cell membranes, limiting its application, which poses a challenge to its therapeutic use. To overcome these challenges, delivery techniques utilizing nanocarriers and modifications in amino acid sequencing have been developed. Recent advancements in delivery systems, including nanocarriers, transdermal patches, and nanoemulsions, aim to minimize toxicity, expanding its therapeutic utility for RA. This article explores these novel strategies, underlining the evolving role of melittin in RA management.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2024.1510693/fullrheumatoid arthritisbee venommelittinanti-inflammatorynovel formulations
spellingShingle Ashutosh Pareek
Khushbu Mehlawat
Kritika Tripathi
Aaushi Pareek
Simran Chaudhary
Yashumati Ratan
Vasso Apostolopoulos
Anil Chuturgoon
Melittin as a therapeutic agent for rheumatoid arthritis: mechanistic insights, advanced delivery systems, and future perspectives
Frontiers in Immunology
rheumatoid arthritis
bee venom
melittin
anti-inflammatory
novel formulations
title Melittin as a therapeutic agent for rheumatoid arthritis: mechanistic insights, advanced delivery systems, and future perspectives
title_full Melittin as a therapeutic agent for rheumatoid arthritis: mechanistic insights, advanced delivery systems, and future perspectives
title_fullStr Melittin as a therapeutic agent for rheumatoid arthritis: mechanistic insights, advanced delivery systems, and future perspectives
title_full_unstemmed Melittin as a therapeutic agent for rheumatoid arthritis: mechanistic insights, advanced delivery systems, and future perspectives
title_short Melittin as a therapeutic agent for rheumatoid arthritis: mechanistic insights, advanced delivery systems, and future perspectives
title_sort melittin as a therapeutic agent for rheumatoid arthritis mechanistic insights advanced delivery systems and future perspectives
topic rheumatoid arthritis
bee venom
melittin
anti-inflammatory
novel formulations
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2024.1510693/full
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