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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2012 Mar 1.
Published in final edited form as: J Orthop Res. 2011 Aug 22;30(3):482–488. doi: 10.1002/jor.21534

Table 1.

Criteria for Defining Proliferation, Metabolic Activity, Protein Production, and Phenotype for Non-Degenerated Human NP Cells

Degenerative Changes in the NP Goals for Effective Treatment as Measured in This Study
Loss of cells5 and increase in senescence6 Increase in metabolic activity/DNA content
Cells with degenerative phenotype Cells with nondegenerated phenotype
    Decrease in collagen II and aggrecan production3     Production of GAG, increase in ACAN and COL2A1 gene expression
    Decrease in SOX97     Increase in SOX9
    Increase in catabolic enzymes8     Decrease in ADAMTS, MMPs
    Increase in fibrotic collagens (collagen I and collagen III)9     Decrease in fibrotic collagens (COL1A1 and COL3A1)