Skip to main content

Stichopus chloronotus aqueous extract as a chondroprotective agent for human chondrocytes isolated from osteoarthitis articular cartilage in vitro

Cytotechnology volume 71, pages 521–537 (2019)Cite this article

Abstract

The proinflammatory cytokines, metalloproteinases family (MMPs), inflammatory mediators PGE2, COX-2 and NO are the most important group of compounds responsible for the loss of metabolic homeostasis of articular cartilage by promoting catabolic and destructive processes in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA). Stichopus chloronotus, a marine sea cucumber which is rich in n-3 PUFAs and phenolic compound, may exert a favorable influence on the course of the disease. The objective of this study was to investigate the regeneration and anti-inflammatory potential of S. chloronotus aqueous extract (SCAE) on human OA articular chondrocytes (HOC). Methods: The HOC isolated from knee joint cartilage removed during surgery were cultured with SCAE for 7 days. The effect of SCAE on anabolic and catabolic gene expression was verified by real-time PCR. Monolayer chondrocytes were stained with toluidine blue whereas sGAG, NO and PGE2 production in medium were analyzed by ELISA. Results: The HOC cultured in various SCAE have polygonal morphology maintaining their chondrocytes characteristic. SAE supplementation tested was found to be effective pro-chondrogenic, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative agents, as evidenced by upregulation of cartilage specific markers collagen type II, aggrecan core protein and sox-9 expression and downregulation of collagen type 1, IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, MMP-1, MMP-3, MMP-13, COX-2, iNOS and PAR-2 expression. The presence of SCAE in the culture was able to increase sGAG and reduce NO and PGE2 production significantly. Conclusions: These results suggested that SCAE demonstrated chondroprotective ability by suppressing catabolic activities, oxidative damage and effectively promoting chondrocytes growth.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

References

  • Abramson SB (2008) Osteoarthritis and nitric oxide. Osteoarthr Cartil 16(Suppl 2):S15–S20

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Akhtar N, Miller MJS, Haqqi TM (2011) Effect of a herbal-leucine mix on the IL-1b induced cartilage degradation and inflammatory gene expression in human chondrocytes. BMC Complement Altern Med 11:66

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Althunibat OY, Ridzwan BH, Taher M, Jamaludin MD, Ikeda MA, Zali BI (2009) In vitro antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of three Malaysian sea cucumber species. Eur J Sci Res 37:376–387

    Google Scholar 

  • Amin AR, Attur M, Patel RN (1997) Superinduction of cyclooxygenase-2 activity in human osteoarthritis-affected cartilage. Influence of nitric oxide. J Clin Invest 99(6):1231–1237

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Boileau C, Amiable N, Pelletier JM, Fahmi H, Duval N, Pelletier JP (2007) Activation of proteinase-activated receptor 2 in human osteoarthritic cartilage upregulates catabolic and proinflammatory pathways capable of inducing cartilage degradation: a basic science study. Arthritis Res Ther 9:R121

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Cardile V, Panico A, Gentile B, Borrelli F, Russo A (2003) Effect of propolis on human cartilage and chondrocytes. Life Sci 73(8):1027–1035

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cucchiarini M, Girolamo LD, Filardo G, Oliveira JM, Orth P, Pape D, Reboul P (2016) Basic science of osteoarthritis. J Exp Orthop 3(1):22

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Curtis CL, Harwood JL, Dent CM, Caterson B (2004) Biological basis for the benefit of nutraceutical supplementation in arthritis. Drug Discov Today 9(4):165–172

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dai L, Zhang X, Hu X et al (2012) Silencing of microRNA-101 prevents IL-1beta-induced extracellular matrix degradation in chondrocytes. Arthritis Res Ther 14(6):R268

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Dodge GR, Jimenez SA (2003) Glucosamine sulfate modulates the levels of aggrecan and matrix metalloproteinase-3 synthesized by cultured human osteoarthritis articular chondrocytes. Osteoarthr Cartil 11(6):424–432

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dozin B, Malpeli M, Camardella L, Cancedda R, Pietrangeloet A (2002) Response of young, aged and osteoarthritic human articular chondrocytes to inflammatory cytokines: molecular and cellular aspects. Matrix Biol 21(5):449–459

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Forbes R, IIias Z, Baine M, Choo PS, Wallbank A (1999) A taxonomic key and field guide to the sea cucumbers of Malaysia. Heriot -Watt University, Edinburgh

    Google Scholar 

  • Fredalina BD, Ridzwan BH, Abidin AA, Kaswandi MA, Zaiton H, Zali I, Kittakoop P, Jais AM (1999) Fatty acid compositions in local sea cucumber, Stichopus chloronotus, for wound healing. Gen Pharmacol 33(4):337–340

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Goldring MB, Otero M (2014) Inflammation in osteoarthritis. Curr Opin Rheumatol 23(5):471–478

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hajjaji H, Marcelus A, Devogelaer JP, Manicourt DH (2003) Celecoxib has a positive effect on the overall metabolism of hyaluronan and proteoglycans in human osteoarthritic cartilage. J Rheumatol 30:2444–2451

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hardy MM, Seibert K, Manning PT (2002) Cyclooxygenase2-dependent prostaglandin E2 modulates cartilage proteoglycan degradation in human osteoarthritis explants. Arthritis Rheum 46(7):1789–1803

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Houard X, Goldring MB, Berenbaum F (2013) Homeostatic mechanisms in articular cartilage and role of inflammation in osteoarthritis. Curr Rheumatol Rep 15(11):375

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Hsieh-Bonassera ND, Wu I, Lin JK, Schumacher BL, Chen AC, Masuda K, Bugbee WD, Sah RL (2009) Expansion and redifferentiation of chondrocytes from osteoarthritic cartilage: cells for human cartilage tissue engineering. Tissue Eng Part A 15(11):3513–3523

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Hurst S, Zainal Z, Caterson B, Hughes CE, Harwood JL (2010) Dietary fatty acids and arthritis. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 82:315–318

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Janakiram NB, Mohammed A, Rao CV (2015) Sea cucumbers metabolites as potent anti-cancer agents. Mar Drugs 13:2909–2923

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Jerosch J (2011) Effects of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate on cartilage metabolism in OA: outlook on other nutrient partners especially omega-3 fatty acids. Int J Rheumatol 2011:969012

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Jiménez G, López-Ruiz E, Kwiatkowski W, Montañez E, Arrebola F, Carrillo E, Gray PC, Izpisua Belmonte JC, Choe S, Perán M, Marchal JA (2015) Activin A/BMP2 chimera AB235 drives efficient redifferentiation of long term cultured autologous chondrocytes. Sci Rep 5:16400

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Kapoor M, Martel-Pelletier J, Lajeunesse D, Pelletier JP, Fahmi H (2011) Role of proinflammatory cytokines in the pathophysiology of osteoarthritis. Nat Rev Rheumatol 7(1):33–42

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Knott L, Avery NC, Hollander AP, Tarlton JF (2011) Regulation of osteoarthritis by omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids in a naturally occurring model of disease. Osteoarthr Cartil 19:1150–1157

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Lee AS, Ellman MB, Yan DY, Kroin JS, Cole BJ, Van Wijnen AJ, Im HJ (2013) A current review of molecular mechanisms regarding osteoarthritis and pain. Gene 527(2):440–447

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Liu Q, Hu X, Zhang X, Duan X, Yang P, Zhao F, Ao Y (2016) Effects of mechanical stress on chondrocyte phenotype and chondrocyte extracellular matrix expression. Sci Rep 6:37268

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Maldonado M, Nam J (2013) The role of changes in extracellular matrix of cartilage in the presence of inflammation on the pathology of osteoarthritis. Biomed Res Int 2013:1–10

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mazliadiyana M, Nazrun AS, Isa NM (2017) Optimum dose of sea cucumber (Stichopus chloronotus) extract for wound healing. Med Health 12(1):83–89

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Munirah S, Samsudin OC, Aminuddin BS, Ruszymah BHI (2010) Expansion of human articular chondrocytes and formation of tissue-engineered cartilage: a step towards exploring a potential use of matrix-induced cell therapy. Tissue Cell 42(5):282–292

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Otero M, Favero M, Dragomir C, Hachem KE, Hashimoto K, Plumb DA, Goldring MB (2012) Human chondrocyte cultures as models of cartilage-specific gene regulation. Methods Mol Biol 806:301–336

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ridzwan BH (2011) Timun Laut Warisan Malaysia. Research Management Centre, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur

    Google Scholar 

  • Shimpo H, Sakai T, Kondo S, Mishima S, Yoda M, Hiraiwa H, Ishiguro N (2009) Regulation of prostaglandin E2 synthesis in cells derived from chondrocytes of patients with osteoarthritis. J Orthop Sci 14(5):611–617

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sun L, Wang X, Kaplan DL (2011) A 3D cartilage-Inflammatory cell culture system for the modeling of human osteoarthritis. Biomaterials 32:5581–5589

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Tsuchida AI, Beekhuizen M, Rutgers M, van Osch GJ, Bekkers JE, Bot AG, Geurts B, Dhert WJ, Saris DB, Creemers LB (2014) Cytokine profiles in the joint depend on pathology, but are different between synovial fluid, cartilage tissue and cultured chondrocytes. Arthritis Res Ther 16:441

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Wang P, Zhu F, Konstantopoulos K (2011) Interleukin-6 synthesis in human chondrocytes is regulated via the antagonistic actions of prostaglandin (PG)E2 and 15-deoxy-D12,14-PGJ2. PLoS ONE 6(11):e27630

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Wann AKT, Mistry J, Blain EJ, Michael-Titus AT, Knight MM (2010) Eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoicacid reduce interleukin-1b-mediated cartilage degradation. Arthritis Res Ther 12:R207

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Yin J, Yang Z, Cao YP, Ge ZG (2011) Characterization of human primary chondrocytes of osteoarthritic cartilage at varying severity. Chin Med J 124(24):4245–4253

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank the ethical committee for proposal approval and science officers in Tissue Engineering Centre at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre for technical assistance and expertise.

Funding

This study was made possible with financial support from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (GUP-2013-23) and Ministry of Education Malaysia (ERGS/1/2012/SKK03/UKM/02/1).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, 18th Floor Preclinical Block, Jalan Yaacob Latiff, 56000, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Mohd Yunus Mohd Heikal & Kien Hui Chua

  2. Department of Pharmacology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Shuid Ahmad Nazrun

  3. Department of Anatomy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Abd Ghafar Norzana

  4. Tissue Engineering Centre, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Mohd Yunus Mohd Heikal

Authors
  1. Mohd Yunus Mohd Heikal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Shuid Ahmad Nazrun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kien Hui Chua
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Abd Ghafar Norzana
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

We declare that all authors listed contributed to the acquisition of data, drafting, critical revision and final approval of this manuscripts. Prof. Dr. Ahmad Nazrun Shuid and Dr. Chua Kien Hui conceived of the study and designed research. Dr. Mohd Heikal Mohd Yunus and Dr. Norzana Abd Gafar analyzed data. Dr. Mohd. Heikal Mohd Yunus performed research. Prof. Dr. Ahmad Nazrun Shuid and Dr. Chua Kien Hui helped coordinate the study. Dr. Mohd Heikal bin Mohd Yunus wrote the paper. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. Dr. Mohd Heikal bin Mohd Yunus takes the integrity of this work.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mohd Yunus Mohd Heikal.

Ethics declarations

Competing interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interest.

Ethics approval

Prior ethical approval was obtained from the Research and Ethical Committee of Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (FF-2015-235).

Informed consent

All the human study subjects provided informed consent.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Mohd Heikal, M.Y., Ahmad Nazrun, S., Chua, K.H. et al. Stichopus chloronotus aqueous extract as a chondroprotective agent for human chondrocytes isolated from osteoarthitis articular cartilage in vitro. Cytotechnology 71, 521–537 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10616-019-00298-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10616-019-00298-2

Keywords

  • Human osteoarthritic articular chondrocytes
  • Stichopus chloronotus
  • Pro-chondrogenic
  • Anti-inflammatory