[en] Introduction and objective: Osteoarthritis (OA) is an articular disease managed rather than cured, with a focus on alleviating its pain. Recent studies suggest that fucoidans, polysaacharids with different biological activities, could be promising candidates to address the symptoms of OA. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antiinflammatory, antioxidant and antifibrotic effects of 3 fucoidans from Fucus vesiculosus, Macrocytis Pyrifera and Undaria pinnatifida in the catabolism of chondrocytes and synoviocytes and to compare their biological actions. Methodology: Articular cells were incubated with different catabolic stimuli along with fucoidans. To activate inflammatory pathways, cells were stimulated with IL-1β, subsequently iNOS and COX-2 expression were assayed by western blot and NO and PGE2 production measured by griess test and ELISA respectively. Mitochondrial dysfunction was induced in chondrocytes by mitochondrial inhibitor Antimicin A after which mitochondrial depolarization and ROS generation were monitored by fluorencent probes. Finally, fibrotic pathways were activated in synoviocytes by TGF-β, then cellular proliferation were assayed by MTT and expression of fibrotic markers by RT-qPCR and inmunocytochemistry. Results: Fucus vesiculosus showed significant antioxidant effect on articular cells, decreasing NO production and protecting chondrocytes against mitochondrial dysfunction. Besides, it was also able to modulate the inflammatory response induced by IL-1β in chondrocytes and synoviocytes. Similarly, Macrocytis Pyrifera and Undaria pinnatifida showed a more effective effect against synovial fibrosis. Conclusions: This work suggests that fucoidans can be a natural therapeutic alternative for OA treatment by decreasing the oxidative stress and the expression of inflammatory mediators, as well as by attenuating the sinovial fibrosis. However, additional studies are warranted before a firm conclusion can be made.

[gl] Introdución e obxectivo: A artrose supón un importante problema de saúde que, a día de hoxe, non ten cura. Un posible tratamento para os signos e síntomas desta patoloxía poden ser os fucoidanos, uns polisacáridos sulfatados naturais con diversas actividades biolóxicas. O obxectivo deste traballo foi avaliar os efectos antiinflamatorios, antioxidantes e antifibróticos de 3 fucoidanos procedentes de Fucus vesiculosus, Macrocytis pyrifera e Undaria pinnatifida no catabolismo dos condrocitos e sinoviocitos e comparar os diferentes fucoidanos entre si. Metodoloxía: As células articulares incubaronse con diferentes mediadores catabólicos na presenza dos fucoidanos. A súa capacidade para modular a inflamación inducida por IL-1β valorouse a través da expresión proteica de COX-2 e HO-1 e da produción de PGE2. A resposta antioxidante dos fucoidanos foi avaliada mediante a expresión de iNOS e a producción de NO, ademais do seu efecto protector sobre a síntese de ROS e a despolarización mitocondrial inducida polo inhibidor mitocondrial Antimicina A. Por último, o seu papel fronte a activación da fibrose sinovial inducida por TGF-β foi estudada a través de ensaios de proliferación e da expresión de marcadores fibróticos nos sinoviocitos. Resultados: O Fucus vesiculosus presentou de maneira significativa o maior efecto antioxidante nas células articulares, tanto a nivel de producción de NO como de protección fronte a disfución mitocondrial. Ademais, foi tamén capaz de modular a resposta inflamatoria inducida por IL-1β nos condrocitos e nos sinovicitos. De igual modo, o de Macrocytis pyrifera xunto ó de Undaria pinnatifida amosaron o mellor efecto protector sobre a fibrose sinovial. Conclusións: Este traballo suxire que os fucoidanos poden ser unha alternativa terapéutica natural para a artrose, diminuíndo o estrés oxidativo, a expresión de mediadores inflamatorios e freando a fibrose sinovial. Porén, serán necesarias máis investigacións para poder dar conclusións definitivas.