Bilir, Emine Kubra, Tutun, Hidayet, Sevin, Sedat, Kivrak, Seyda, Bucci, Tommaso 
ORCID: 0000-0003-2895-6234 and Williams, Rachel ORCID: 0000-0002-1954-0256
(2026)
In Vitro Ocular Cytotoxicity of BEE Venom in ARPE-19, NTM5, HCET, and HCEC-12 Cell Lines
CELL BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOPHYSICS, 84 (2).
pp. 2907-2920.
ISSN 1085-9195, 1559-0283
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Abstract
Bee venom (BV) is a complex natural secretion of Apis mellifera with documented anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anticancer properties. Despite its therapeutic potential, safety concerns remain due to its strong cytotoxic effects, particularly in sensitive tissues such as the eye. In this study, we evaluated the composition and ocular cytotoxicity of purified BV obtained from the Muğla ecotype of Apis mellifera anatoliaca. High-performance liquid chromatography with variable wavelength detection (HPLC-VWD) confirmed the presence of three principal components; melittin (71.08 ± 0.33%), phospholipase A₂ (12.98 ± 0.27%), and apamin (3.02 ± 0.25%) at retention times consistent with reference standards. Cytotoxicity was assessed in four human ocular cell lines: ARPE-19 (retinal pigment epithelium), NTM5 (trabecular meshwork), HCE-T (corneal epithelium), and HCEC-12 (corneal endothelium), using MTT viability assays and live/dead staining over 24 h and 48 h. BV exerted strong, dose and time dependent cytotoxic effects across all cell lines, with ARPE-19 and NTM5 cells exhibiting the highest sensitivity. IC₅₀ values were 22.36 µg/mL (24 h) and 12.55 µg/mL (48 h) in ARPE-19, and 20.78 µg/mL (24 h) and 13.07 µg/mL (48 h) in NTM5 cells. By contrast, HCEC-12 and HCE-T cells displayed moderate sensitivity, with IC₅₀ values between 29 and 34 µg/mL. These findings highlight tissue-specific differences in BV susceptibility. While BV may offer therapeutic promise, its narrow safety margin in ocular cells underscores the importance of controlled delivery strategies to minimize toxicity. This study provides foundational data for evaluating the ocular safety profile of BV and informs future translational applications.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Bee venom, Human ocular cell lines, Ocular toxicity, HPLC, Apis mellifera |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Health & Life Sciences Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Life Courses & Medical Sciences Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Life Courses & Medical Sciences > Inst. Life Courses & Medical Sciences (T&R staff) Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Life Courses & Medical Sciences > Cardiovascular & Metabolic Medicine Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Life Courses & Medical Sciences > Eye & Vision Sciences |
| Depositing User: | Symplectic Admin |
| Date Deposited: | 17 Mar 2026 17:02 |
| Last Modified: | 16 Jun 2026 06:03 |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s12013-026-02042-y |
| Related Websites: | |
| URI: | https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3197586 |
| Disclaimer: | The University of Liverpool is not responsible for content contained on other websites from links within repository metadata. Please contact us if you notice anything that appears incorrect or inappropriate. |
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