Figure 1From: Comparison of marker gene expression in chondrocytes from patients receiving autologous chondrocyte transplantation versus osteoarthritis patientsGene expression patterns of chondrocytes ex vivo. Chondrocytes were isolated from cartilage of healthy individuals (n = 6, white bars) or osteoarthritis (OA) patients (n = 20, black bars). The ex vivo gene expression of type I and II collagen (CI and CII, respectively), aggrecan (AGG), IL-1β and activin-like kinase (ALK)-1 was determined using qRT-PCR. The mRNA levels were normalized to GAPDH and amplified by a factor of 106. The collagen type I to collagen type II mRNA ratio was calculated as a measure for the differentiation status of the chondrocytes. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) are marked by asterisks (*).Back to article page