Figure 8.

Relative gene expression (percentage of 2^−∆CT) of relevant chondrogenic genes ((A) aggrecan, (B) collagen type II, (C) collagen type I, (D) collagen type X, (E) SOX9) in spheroid cultures at day 35. Chondrocyte pellets were cultured in following media: Negative control (NC), vital cartilage conditioned medium (VC), high hydrostatic pressure treated cartilage conditioned medium (HHPTC) and under addition of IGF-1 and TGF-β1 as positive control (PC). Gene expression was determined using semi-quantitative real time PCR. Relative gene expression was calculated based on the internal control (β-actin): ∆Ct = Ct_target − Ct_β-actin. Statistical evaluation was performed with One-way ANOVA and Bonferroni’s multiple comparison as post hoc test with n = 6 for the conditioned media samples and n = 3 for controls (NC, PC). Significance: *** p < 0.001.