Fig. 5

Gene expression analysis. Data are shown for type I collagen (Col1) discs, type II collagen (Col2) discs and pellets after 17 or 42 days of chondrogenic induction (by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, qPCR). Col2 discs displayed lower expression of chondrogenic markers at day 17 than Col1 discs. Pellets displayed lower COL2A1/ACAN ratio and higher expression of COL1A1 than discs at day 42. All gene expression values expressed as 2^-∆Ct (normalized to GAPDH unless otherwise stated), and compared among all groups at different time points. Only successfully formed discs were evaluated in the Col1 and Col2 groups