Swiss Bee Keeper, exploited on behalf of immunology researchers. From Meiler et al., “In vivo switch to IL-10 secreting T-regulatory cells in high dose allergan exposure, “Journal of Experimental Medicine 205:2887-2889 (11.10.08) doi:10.1084/jem.20512iti4 (Image from cover, crediting Scott Camazine/Photo Researchers, Inc)
“Beekeepers are the new, improved mouse model for immune responses to allergens,” begins a commentary on new research in the Journal of Experimental Medicine. Dr. Brasseur, the commentator, continues,
It’s an immunologist’s dream. By the very nature of their jobs, unprotected beekeepers are voluntarily and repeatedly injected with high doses of bee antigen—an average of 13 antigen-loaded stings in the first week of honey-harvesting season alone, according to the study. And in just these seven days, the beekeepers developed an immune tolerance that was noticeable in both skin reactions and T cell responses.. . .
Beekeepers demonstrate immune tolerance, and Swiss researchers demonstrate that it can be traced to a cytokine switch (more from the commentary):
T cells that had made mostly IFN-
started making more IL-10, which tempers immune reactions. IL-10–producing cells curbed the in vitro proliferation of other T cells in response to bee antigen.
The cytokine switch, the authors found, was initiated through the histamine pathway. As with many allergens, bee venom induces mast cells to unload histamine. In vitro experiments with the beekeepers’ T cells revealed that histamine induced IL-10 production and T cell lethargy, both of which required the H2 histamine receptor.
The beekeepers’ tolerance was lost within two months of season’s end, unveiling a relatively short lifespan of T cell suppression. The cycle repeated at the onset of the next season, so beekeepers have little to worry about. But allergy sufferers, who may be defective in this IL-10 response, might be less enthused, because the findings suggest that successful therapies involving allergen-specific immunotherapy probably require considerable perseverance.
This begs the question: should we all be bee-keepers for our allergens? Probably not, until we figure out if it’s an interleukin-10 problem that causes the allergies. After all, what good would living with, say, 30 cats do if at the end, we’ll still be interleukin-10 deficient with watery eyes and a reputation as a cat horder? None. But a sustained release IL-10 agonist derivatized for long half life in the systemic circulation perhaps may have some value.
Additional points about bees, honey, et al:
Free Relationship Advice: Say this: “Honey’s the second sweetest thing in the world” — The natural response will be, “What’s the first sweetest?” Your totally irresistible response, “YOU ARE!” (Subtle, sophisticated and mature expression of affection, n’est ce pas?).
Don’t do this: An elderly scientist who had bursitis in his elbow wanted to dial down his inflammatory cascade. For reasons unknown, perhaps having observed beekeepers, he attempted to capture a bee in a shot glass, and get it to sting his elbow. He put the shot glass upside down on his elbow, but the bee would not sting him. So he went back for another bee. Big mistake – he got in the path of the hive flyway (where the bees go in and out as a swarm). He did mention that all the stings overwhelmed his bursitis symptoms.
Recipe: Honey Lip Balm – bees’ wax, almond oil and honey (from the National Honey Board)
Flurina Meiler, Judith Zumkehr, Sven Klunker, Beate Rückert, Cezmi A. Akdis, and Mübeccel Akdis , “In vivo switch to IL-10 secreting T-regulatory cells in high dose allergan exposure, ”
J. Exp. Med. 2008 205: 2887-2898. Published online Nov 10 2008, :10.1084/jem.20512iti4
[...] (photo courtesy of Neurological Correlates) [...]
Congratulations for your works. I am very exited for become a beekeeper