Bee Venom Component Induces Tumor Cell Death, Stimulates Immune System

Bee Venom Secretory Phospholipase A2 and Phosphatidylinositol-Homologues Cooperatively Disrupt Membrane Integrity, Abrogate Signal Transduction and Inhibit Proliferation of Renal Cancer Cells
Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy, 2007 May;56(5):627-40. Epub 2006 Sep 1

Bee venom secretory phospholipase A2 (bv-sPLA2) and phosphatidylinositol-(3,4)-bisphosphate (PtdIns(3,4)P2) act synergistically to induce cell death in tumour cells of various origins with concomitant stimulation of the immune system…

In conclusion, we suggest that the cytotoxic activity mediated by PtdIns(3,4)P2 and bv-sPLA2 is due to cell death that results from disruption of membrane integrity, abrogation of signal transduction and the generation of cytotoxic lyso-PtdIns(3,4)P2.