Fig. 1

Specific gene expression profiles and extracellular matrix staining of monolayer cultured human OA chondrocytes. a Real-time PCR to quantify specific gene expression profiles of monolayer cultured OA chondrocytes among P1, P3, and P5 (n = 3 in each group). Significance values were *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, and ***p < 0.001; error bars indicated standard errors of the means. b Extracellular matrix staining of monolayer cultured human OA chondrocytes. Toluidine blue, safranin O, and immunofluorescence staining for type II and I collagen in OA chondrocytes cultured in monolayer. c Cell glycosaminoglycan released into the medium. P1–P5 cultures were analyzed by the DMMB assay (n = 3 in each group). *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, and ***p < 0.001; data are mean ± standard