Figure 6.
To assess the potential of pre-warming of allograft cartilage to decrease stress response and enhance the expression of ECM proteins observed in fresh cartilage, we incubated cartilage specimens from allografts at 37°C and 4°C for 10 days. (a) Evaluation of gene expression using RT-qPCR shows a downregulation in stress response, as well as a decrease in ECM encoding mRNAs. (b) Changes in gene expression are also associated with a decrease in total RNA yields from tissue samples. These findings could be seen with a loss of chondrocyte viability in warmed allograft cartilage.