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Bee sting acupuncture mitigates osteoarthritis in male mice via PPAR-γ activation: integrated network pharmacology,

Zhiyuan Feng1, Jiali Yang2, Ya Zhu1

  • 1College of Bee Science and Biomedicine, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China.

International Immunopharmacology
|February 14, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Bee sting acupuncture (BSA) effectively treats osteoarthritis (OA) by reducing inflammation and cartilage damage. This study reveals BSA activates PPAR-γ, inhibiting the NF-κB pathway to alleviate OA progression in mice.

Area of Science:

  • Orthopedics
  • Immunology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent chronic joint disease.
  • Bee sting acupuncture (BSA) is a common traditional Chinese medicine treatment for OA.
  • The precise molecular mechanisms of BSA's therapeutic effects on OA are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the therapeutic role and underlying molecular mechanisms of BSA in a mouse model of OA.
  • To explore the effects of bee venom (BV) on key molecular targets involved in OA pathogenesis.

Main Methods:

  • Monosodium iodoacetate-induced OA mice were treated with BSA for six weeks.
  • Network pharmacology and molecular docking were used for target prediction.
  • Serum cytokine levels, gene/protein expression in knee joints, and chondrocyte responses were analyzed using biochemical assays, RNA-seq, and Western blotting.

Main Results:

  • BSA treatment ameliorated cartilage damage and reduced serum CTX-II levels in OA mice.
  • BSA significantly decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α) and ECM-degrading enzymes (MMPs, ADAMTS5).
  • BSA activated PPAR-γ, inhibited NF-κB signaling, reduced apoptosis, and enhanced chondrocyte viability.

Conclusions:

  • BSA effectively alleviates OA by inhibiting the NF-κB pathway through PPAR-γ activation.
  • This mechanism reduces cartilage inflammation, ECM degradation, and apoptosis in OA.
  • The findings provide a scientific basis for BSA as a therapeutic strategy for osteoarthritis.
Keywords:
Bee sting acupunctureNetwork pharmacologyOsteoarthritisPPAR-γTranscriptome

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