FIG. 1.

Gene expression levels of (a, f) collagen II (COL2A1), (b, g) aggrecan (ACAN), (c, h) collagen I (COL1A1), (d, i) collagen X (COL10A1), and (e, j) connexin 43 (GJA1) in (a–e) human articular chondrocytes or (f–j) BM-MSCs after treatment with the gap junction blocker 18αGCA. Cells were differentiated in alginate hydrogels or pellet cultures in the absence (Ctrl) or presence of 18αGCA (GCA). The gene expression levels were measured at day 0 (d0) and day 9 of culture with real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, then normalized to housekeeping genes using the comparative deltaCt method, and transformed into the binary logarithm (log2). For clarity, statistical significance was only shown for comparisons between 18αGCA-treated groups and controls as well as alginate Ctrl versus pellet Ctrl (n=6 from three donors of each cell type). 18αGCA, 18-α glycyrrhetinic acid; BM-MSC, bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cell.