Figure 5

Gene expression analysis of CSP pellet cultures. Semi-quantitative real-time gene expression analysis of human CSP pellets treated with synovial fluid from ND, OA and RA donors. Chondrogenic differentiation of CSP was analyzed by gene expression analysis (n = 3) of the typical chondrocytic marker genes aggrecan, cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), link-protein type II and type IX collagen. Matrix remodelling was assessed by gene expression analysis of the matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-1, -2 and -13 as well as their inhibitors (TIMP)-1 and -2. The expression level of marker genes was calculated as percentage of the expression level of the housekeeping gene GAPDH. The mean of each triplicate is plotted and the error bars represent SD.