C-phycocyanin alleviates osteoarthritic injury in chondrocytes stimulated with H2O2 and compressive stress

During the progression of osteoarthritis (OA), dysregulation of extracellular matrix anabolism, abnormal generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammatory cytokines have been shown to accelerate the degradation process of cartilage. The potency of c-phycocyanin (C-PC) to protect cellular components against oxidative stress, along with its anti-inflammation and anti-apoptosis effects, are well documented; however, effects of C-PC on OA are still unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of C-PC on OA using H2O2 or compression-stimulated OA-like porcine chondrocyte models. The results showed that C-PC had the ability to inhibit ROS production, reverse caspase-3 activity, and reduce apoptosis cell population. C-PC also reversed aggrecan and type II collagen gene expressions after stimulation with 1 mM H2O2 or 60 psi of compression. Inhibition of IL-6 and MMP-13 genes was observed in compression-stimulated chondrocytes but not in H2O2-treated cells. In dimethylmethylene blue assay and alcian blue staining, C-PC maintained the sulfated-glycosaminoglycan (sGAG) content after stimulation with compression. We concluded that C-PC can prevent early signs of OA caused by compressive stress and attenuate H2O2-induced oxidative stress. Therefore, we suggest that C-PC can be used as a potential drug candidate for chronic OA treatment.