Antifibrotic effect of brown algae-derived fucoidans on osteoarthritic fibroblast-like synoviocytes

Synovial fibrosis is a pathological process which contributes to joint pain and stiffness in several musculoskeletal disorders. Fucoidans, sulfated polysaccharides found in brown algae, have recently emerged as promising therapeutic agents. Despite the increasing amount of evidence suggesting the protective role of fucoidans in different experimental approaches of human fibrotic disorders, the effect of these sulfated polysaccharides on synovial fibrosis has not been investigated yet. By an in vitro experimental approach in fibroblast-like synoviocytes, we detected that fucoidans inhibit their differentiation into myofibroblasts with tumor cell-like characteristics and restore apoptosis. Composition and structure of fucoidan appear to be critical for the detected activity. Furthermore, protective effects of these sulfated polysaccharides are mediated by upregulation of nitric oxide production and modulation of TGF-β/smad pathway. Altogether, our results support the use of fucoidans as therapeutic compounds in the treatment of the fibrotic processes involved in rheumatic pathologies.