Figure 3. RT-PCR results showing the effect of osteogenic media on osteogenic and chondrogenic gene expression in epiphyseal and diaphyseal cell populations.

Epiphyseal cells, in osteogenic media, expressed higher levels of RUNX2, ALP and Type I collagen (A–C) whilst in diaphyseal cell populations, only an increase in ALP expression was recorded (E–G). In epiphyseal and diaphyseal cells, the expression of the chondrogenic transcription factor, SOX9, was reduced in osteogenic media (D and H). Relative expression was normalized to β-Actin with basal condition set to an expression of one. Data represent an average of three independent patient samples and error bars represent standard deviation. **P<0.005; ***P<0.001 calculated using Mann-Whitney test.