Figure 2

Quantification of MMP-1 and MMP-3 by ELISA in OF cartilage. Quantification of (a) MMP-1 and (b) MMP-3 in articular cartilage from normal human femoral heads using ELISA. Values were normalised to total soluble protein, which was obtained after proteoglycan extraction and was quantified by Bradford method. Separated maximum (SP) and minimum (IP) mechanical load areas were obtained from each femoral head. The horizontal bar indicates the median, the box is the interquartile range, and the vertical lines indicate the atypical values. Median values were expressed as percentages. The Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to compare areas within the same joint. *Significant differences in MMP-1 values between areas were found (p < 0.05). No significant differences were found in MMP-3 values. ELISA, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; IP, inferior pole; MMP, matrix metalloproteinase; n, number of femoral heads used in the experiment; OF, osteoporotic fracture; SP, superior pole.