Figure 4.
Identification of membrane-associated NP marker genes. Comparison strategy of whole transcriptome datasets of published primary IVD cellular isolates and clonal cell lines. (A) Marker genes significantly more highly expressed in primary NP compared to AC from 2 independent published datasets26,27 were compared. (B) Definition of primary NP-specific membrane marker genes compared to AF and AC26 and definition of NP cell clone (R/nR) specific marker genes.18 (C) Subsequently both primary and clonal NP membrane marker gene sets were compared to each other. (D) Definition of primary AF-specific membrane marker genes compared to NP and definition of AF cell clone (S/nS) specific marker genes. (E) Subsequent comparison of primary and clonal AF membrane marker genes.