Figure 6

RT-qPCR validation of differential gene expression. Significant up-regulation of COL2A1 (B) and COMP (C) gene expression in normal articular cartilage relative to repair tissue was confirmed. Higher steady-state levels of COL1A2 (A), DPT (D), and FAP (E) transcripts in repair tissue were also confirmed. Gene expression of TNC (F) demonstrates a trend of increased steady state abundance in repair tissue relative to normal articular cartilage, though statistical significance was not achieved. Steady state mRNA levels for each gene were standardized to the sample with the lowest value. Plots are depicted as box and whisker plots demonstrating the median (solid line), upper and lower quartiles, and highest and lowest values (range bars). Mean fold differences are given above the box and whisker plots for each gene; one-tailed general linear model (α = 0.05) statistical analysis applied with SPSS software.