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. 2017 Aug 22;22(1):77–88. doi: 10.1111/jcmm.13295

Figure 1.

Figure 1

Effects of growth factors with NAC on trauma‐induced gene expression of ECM‐destructive enzymes. Impacted human cartilage explants were continuously treated by growth factors and NAC (2 mM or 3.5 mM). 7 days post‐trauma, gene expression levels of ECM‐destructive enzymes (A) ADAMTS‐4, (B) ADAMTS‐5, (C) MMP‐1, (D) MMP‐2, (E) MMP‐3 and (F) MMP‐13 were analysed by qRT‐PCR. T= traumatized, +I/B/F= stimulated by IGF‐1 (purple)/FGF18 (red)/BMP7 (green). Significant differences between groups were depicted as: [versus T] *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001; ****P < 0.0001; [versus C] c= P < 0.01; [GF versus GF] $ P < 0.05, $$$ P < 0.001, $$$$ P < 0.0001. T: n ≥ 20; T+N: n ≥ 13 (2 mM), n ≥ 9 (3.5); T+N+I: n ≥ 8 (2 mM), n = 4 (3.5 mM); T+N+F: n ≥ 5 (2 mM), n = 5 (3.5 mM); T+N+B: n ≥ 8 (2 mM), n = 5 (3.5 mM).