Salts play a crucial role in maintaining human health by regulating fluid levels and supporting various physiological processes. However, conventional seawater-derived salts are associated with microplastic pollution and pose potential health risks. Jeju lava seawater (JLS), sourced exclusively from Jeju Island, has emerged as a unique alternative, free of microplastics and enriched with essential minerals such as magnesium, calcium, zinc, and iron. In this study, we investigated the effects of JLS on osteoarthritis (OA) pathogenesis, focusing on chondrocyte metabolism and OA development. We performed surgical destabilization of the medial meniscus to establish a murine model of OA. We examined the expression of catabolic and anabolic factors in JLS-treated chondrocytes. Our cell viability assay revealed that JLS treatment was not cytotoxic to chondrocytes at concentrations ≤ 0.5%. Additionally, JLS treatment resulted in a concentration-dependent increase in the expression of anabolic factors like aggrecan, SOX9, and COL2A1 while decreasing the expression of catabolic factors such as MMP3, MMP13, ADAMTS4, and ADAMTS5 in the chondrocytes stimulated with pro-inflammatory cytokines. Although not statistically significant compared to the control group, JLS intake slightly attenuated the OARSI score, osteophyte score, synovitis score, subchondral bone thickness, and osteophyte size in the mouse model of OA. Conclusively, these results suggest that JLS ameliorates OA by positively influencing chondrocyte metabolism, making it a promising therapeutic candidate for OA management.

中文翻译：

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济州熔岩海水盐对骨关节炎治疗潜力的全面体外和体内研究

盐通过调节体液水平和支持各种生理过程，在维持人类健康方面发挥着至关重要的作用。然而，传统的海水盐与微塑料污染有关，并构成潜在的健康风险。济州熔岩海水 (JLS) 完全源自济州岛，已成为一种独特的替代品，不含微塑料，富含镁、钙、锌和铁等必需矿物质。在本研究中，我们研究了 JLS 对骨关节炎 (OA) 发病机制的影响，重点关注软骨细胞代谢和 OA 发展。我们对内侧半月板进行了不稳定手术，以建立 OA 小鼠模型。我们检查了 JLS 处理的软骨细胞中分解代谢和合成代谢因子的表达。我们的细胞活力测定表明，JLS 处理在浓度 ≤ 0.5% 时对软骨细胞没有细胞毒性。此外，JLS 治疗导致促炎细胞因子刺激的软骨细胞中聚集蛋白聚糖、SOX9 和 COL2A1 等合成代谢因子的表达呈浓度依赖性增加，同时降低 MMP3、MMP13、ADAMTS4 和 ADAMTS5 等分解代谢因子的表达。虽然与对照组相比没有统计学意义，但 JLS 摄入量略微减弱了 OA 小鼠模型中的 OARSI 评分、骨赘评分、滑膜炎评分、软骨下骨厚度和骨赘大小。总之，这些结果表明 JLS 通过积极影响软骨细胞代谢来改善 OA，使其成为 OA 管理的有前途的治疗候选者。