Figure 5.

Relative gene expression in native nasal cartilage, 2-, and 6-month group samples. (A) Cartilage-specific genes (COL II, AGG, and COMP) were significantly decreased in 2- and 6-month newly formed tissue (NFT) group samples compared with the healthy native nasal cartilage (NC). (B) Gene expression levels of COL I, COL IV, DKK3, and CRABP I were higher in 2- and 6-month group samples compared with the NC group but without significant differences. The exception was a higher expression of CRABP I in the 6-month group. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was performed with specific primers and results were expressed as ΔCt values. Data were presented as mean ± SD (NC, n = 14; 2-month samples, n = 7; 6-month samples, n = 7). COL II, collagen type II; AGG, aggrecan; COMP, cartilage oligomeric matrix protein; COL I, collagen type I; COL IV, collagen type IV; DKK3, Dickkopf WNT signaling pathway inhibitor 3; CRABPI, cellular retinoic acid binding protein-I. One-way analysis of variance and Tukey’s post hoc test, P > 0.0332 (*), P > 0.0002 (***), P > 0.0001 (****).