Myelin Basic Protein (MBP) (68-82), guinea pig is a peptide with the sequence Tyr-Gly-Ser-Leu-Pro-Gln-Lys-Ser-Gln-Arg-Ser-Gln-Asp-Glu-Asn.Myelin Basic Protein (MBP) (68-82), guinea pig(MBP (68-82), guinea pig) is a fragment of myelin basic protein (MBP).

Multiple sclerosis is the most common autoimmune disorder affecting the central nervous system. The whole blood samples are analyzed for activation capacity and the activatability of CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocytes by human total myelin basic protein (MBP), human MBP 104-118 fragment, and guinea pig MBP (68-82) fragment in this study. A significant increase in the number of activated T-lymphocytes was observed in the whole blood. For all three tested MBPs, this increase in activated CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocytes is statistically significant (p<0.01). However, this increase in activated T-cells is most prominent following incubation with human total MBP, followed by human 104-118 fragment; the smallest increase is observed following incubation with guinea pig MBP (68-82) fragment (human total MBP>huMBP-104-118>guinea pig MBP (68-82))[1].

This study investigates the impact of preemptive bee venom acupuncture (BVA) treatment, starting from the day of myelin basic protein (MBP) (68-82) immunization, on the onset and progression of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and associated weight loss. After immunization, rats in the MBP group began showing early signs of EAE, such as partial loss of tail tone, within 5-9 days, progressing to more severe neurological symptoms, including various degrees of limb paralysis, between 10-16 days. In contrast, rats treated with BVA exhibited milder neurological impairments, with a dose-dependent reduction in symptom severity and delayed onset of symptoms (BVA 0.8 mg/kg, 6.4±0.6 days) observed 11-15 days post-immunization. Additionally, the maximum clinical score was significantly lower in the BVA-treated groups (BVA 0.25 mg/kg, 3.7±0.2; BVA 0.8 mg/kg, 2.8±0.3) compared to the untreated MBP group. Moreover, while the MBP group's mean body weight decreased, the MBP + BVA group's mean body weight significantly increased compared to the MBP-only group, highlighting a potential protective effect of BVA against EAE-induced weight loss and symptom severity.