Figure 6.

Chondrogenic properties of Af, AGf, and AUBMf embedded cells: analysis of cartilage-specific markers. Af, AGf, and AUBMf embedded redifferentiated chondrocytes or chondrocyte micromasses (MM) cultured for 7 or 14 days were compared for chondrogenic capacity by analyzing the expression of cartilage markers. (A) The expression of Col2A1, Col1A1, and aggrecan was evaluated by RT-qPCR. Values obtained from freshly isolated (P0) and dedifferentiated chondrocytes (P6) are also included. Results were calculated using 2^−ΔΔCt method, and data are presented as fold change means respect to MM day 7. (B) Quantification of Col2a1/Col1a1 ratio, Col10A1 expression, and GAG content for each experimental condition are reported. Col10a1 expression was assessed by RT-qPCR and resulted not detectable (ND) in all tested conditions. GAG content was quantified by DMMB staining on cellular lysates, and values are reported as µg GAG/ng DNA. All data are presented as means ± SEM of three independent experiments performed on chondrocytes from four different donors (n = 4). Statistical analysis was performed all conditions versus MM day 7 (*p < 0.05) or versus MM day 14 (^Δp < 0.05).