Terpenes: evaluation of the anti-inflammatory effects of bioactives in cell culture

• Grant number: 22/13515-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: November 01, 2022
• End date: October 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: Ana Claudia Muniz Renno
• Grantee: Mirian Bonifacio Silva
• Host Institution: Instituto de Saúde e Sociedade (ISS). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus Baixada Santista. Santos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 19/10228-5 - Interdisciplinar net for the development of biotechnological products from marine origin for use in human health: pathological complication of the osteoarticular system, AP.TEM

Abstract

The expressive worldwide increase in the elderly population brings with it an increase in the incidence of chronic degenerative diseases, responsible for a high rate of morbidity and mortality. Among them, one of the most relevant is osteoarthritis (OA), which mainly affects adults over 60 years old. OA is characterized by the gradual loss of articular cartilage and the involvement of adjacent periarticular tissues due to the inflammatory process. So, the development of innovative and effective therapeutic interventions for the treatment of this disease is of great importance. In this context, marine's biodiversity is extremely rich for the supply of biologically active substances and secondary metabolites that can be used to make drugs for the treatment of various diseases. One of the most promising marine organisms is the sponge, whose structure consists of elements with potential antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects. Therefore, the main objective of this proposal is to characterize the physicochemical properties and evaluate the in vitro biocompatibility of anti-inflammatory components (terpenes) extracted from sea sponges. For this purpose, after sponge collection and terpene extraction, terpene characterization tests will be performed, and later, in vitro studies, proliferation, cell viability, genotoxicity and inflammatory activity in chondrocytes and macrophages will be evaluated. Given the above, the hypothesis of this project is that anti-inflammatory components (terpenes) extracted from the marine sponge Dysidea Robusta are able to modulate the inflammatory process in the joint of an experimental osteoarthritis model. Thus, from these pre-clinical studies, it is expected that this proposal will contribute to the development of new, more effective and safer treatments aimed at accelerating the tissue repair process and the treatment of joint degeneration. (AU)