Fig 3. Young Col2Cre;Adgrg6f/f mutant mice display fibrotic-like changes of gene expression and dysregulation of genes associated with ion transport in the IVD.
(A) Heatmap of differentially expressed gene based on RNA-sequencing analysis of IVDs derived from both Col2Cre;Adgrg6f/f mutant (Mut 1–3) and Cre (-) littermates (Ctrl 1–3) at P20. (B) Gene ontology (GO) analysis revealed a suite of differentially expressed genes important for extracellular matrix organization and ion transport. (C-G) RNA-sequencing analysis revealed mild alterations in some chondrogenic (C) and catabolic (D) gene expression, but significantly induced fibrotic gene expression (E) and dysregulation of genes involved in ion transport (F) in the Col2Cre;Adgrg6f/f mutant IVDs at P20. Some genes encode members of the suppressor of cytokine signaling were also upregulated in the mutant IVDs (G). Differential expressed genes with p value < 0.05 were highlighted in blue. Log2FC: gene expression fold changes in Log2 scale.