Figure 5.

Western Blot shows RUNX2 protein levels in control (ND, normal donor), Pt1 (P1) and Pt2 (P2) os-fibroblasts (A). RUNX2 protein levels are higher in fibroblasts of CCD patients compared to control as shown by densitometric analyses (A). On the contrary, RUNX2 gene expression appears similar in os-fibroblasts of CCD patients and control. SPARC gene expression is lower in os-fibroblasts of CCD patients compared to control (B). Calcium deposition, evaluated by alizarin red staining (ARS), is reduced in os-fibroblasts of CCD patients compared to control (magnification: 10x) (C). All analyses were performed in samples of each participant in three independent analyses in triplicate. Data are shown as mean ± standard deviation (SD). * p < 0.05; ** p < 0.005.