Table 2.

Expression of Aggrecan (AGN) and Collagen Type II (Col2) by Chondrocyte-Laden Agarose Constructs

	AGN	Col2
CTL	0.06	0.9
IL1-β	0.01	0.2
TNF-α	0.02	0.1
IL1-β + U0126	0.06	0.5
TNF-α + U0126	0.04	0.2

Constructs were cultured for 28 days in CM− with or without 10 ng/mL IL1-β or TNF-α, and the effect of the ERK inhibitor U0126 was analyzed. Real-time RT-PCR analysis of gene expression was performed using a mixture of constructs (n = 5). Values represent the relative levels of the respective transcripts (× 10) normalized to that of GAPDH mRNA.