Figure 2.

Changes in chondrogenic marker and TG2 expression in pellet culture system. Human articular chondrocytes were passaged up to 4 in monolayer culture. Cells were detached and cultivated in monolayer or pellet culture system for 14 days. (A) SOX9, COL2A1, ACAN and (B) TG2 mRNA expression levels were measured by real-time qPCR. Data represent mean values ± SD from at least three independent experiments. ML, monolayer. Pellet, pellet culture system. * p < 0.05. n = 3. (C) TG2 protein expression levels were examined by western blotting. Asterisks denote other TGs. β-actin was used as a loading control.