Fernández-Moreno, MercedesHermida Gómez, TamaraVaamonde-García, CarlosPaniagua Barro, SaraLarkins, NicholasReynolds, AlanBlanco García, Francisco J2025-10-162025-10-162025-09-16Fernández-Moreno M, Hermida-Gómez T, Vaamonde-Garcia C, Paniagua-Barro S, Larkins N, Reynolds A, Blanco FJ. The senotherapeutic effects of APPA (Apocynin [AP] and Paeonol [PA]) on senescent human chondrocytes. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2025 Sep 16;18(9):1386.1424-8247https://hdl.handle.net/2183/45997[Abstract] Background/Objectives: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a complex joint disease involving chronic inflammation, aging, and obesity, affecting nearly 6 million people worldwide. Senescent cells in OA are linked to increased inflammation, oxidative stress, and DNA damage, making them potential therapeutic targets. APPA, a combination of apocynin (AP) and paeonol (PA), has shown anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. This study evaluated the effects of APPA on cellular senescence in human articular chondrocytes. Methods: Using a chondrocyte cell line (T/C-28a2) and primary human chondrocytes, senescence was induced with etoposide and Oncostatin M (Eto + OSM), followed by treatment with APPA, AP, or PA. Senescence markers (SA-β-gal, P21_CDKN1A_), apoptosis, proliferation (Ki67), and rps6 protein levels were analyzed. Results: APPA significantly reduced SA-β-gal activity and p21 expression in cell model-effects not replicated by AP or PA alone. APPA increased early apoptosis and dual-labeled senescent-apoptotic cells, along with total cell numbers and rps6 levels. It also altered Ki67 expression in different cell subpopulations, suggesting effects on proliferation. Conclusions: This study suggests that APPA exerts senotherapeutic effects on human senescent chondrocytes. A reduction in SA-β-gal together with an increase in cell numbers and the proliferation marker Ki67 suggests possible senomorphic effects, whereas a reduction in SA-β-Gal accompanied by an increase in apoptosis indicates senolytic activity. These findings support recent evidence that the distinction between senolytic and senomorphic agents is 'fuzzy'.engAttribution 4.0 Internationalhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/APPAApoptosisChondrocyteProliferationSenescenceSenotherapeuticjournal articleopen access10.3390/ph18091386