Figure 8. Gene expression of tenogenic, osteogenic, and chondrogenic markers to evaluate cell phenotype after BMP-7 stimulation.
Box plot graphs represent qRT-PCR values given as mean normalised expression relative to 18S rRNA and the untreated control (reference line) using an efficiency corrected formula (n = 6). Stars indicate significant differences to the untreated control. After 8 h of BMP-7-stimulation hTLCs expressed significantly higher amounts of the tenogenic markers scleraxis (p = 0.008) and matrix protein collagen I, whereas osteogenic markers were not upregulated or not expressed at all (Runx2 and osterix) and only Sox9 was upregulated as a marker for chondrogenic differentiation.