Oral administration of freeze-dried powders of honey bee larvae inhibits the development of atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice

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This study was designed to evaluate the suppressive effect of the oral administration of the freeze-dried honey bee larvae powder on atopic dermatitis (AD)-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice. The effects of freeze-dried honey bee larvae powder on AD-like skin lesions in mice were studied by evaluating the condition of the skin macroscopically and histopathologically, ear swelling degree, serum levels of total IgE, interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and level of IL-18 and IL-12 in skin lesions. NC/Nga mice fed the freeze-dried honey bee larvae powder-supplemented diet showed a decrease in dermatitis scores of the dorsal skin, ear thickness, skin hypertrophy, inflammatory cell infiltration in the skin, serum total IgE, IL-4, and IFN-γ levels, and IL-18 and IL-12 levels in skin lesions. These results suggest that the freeze-dried powder of honey bee larvae inhibits the development of AD-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice by suppressing both T-helper (Th) 1 and Th 2 cell responses. Our results indicate that oral administration of the freeze-dried honey bee larvae powder could provide an adjunctive therapy for the management of AD.