Figure 3

Relative expression of mRNA. The y-axis shows the mRNA expression relative to that of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). The results were evaluated using the SmartCycler II software program. GAPDH expression was used to normalize samples. The error bars represent the standard deviation. Type I collagen mRNA expression was present at a low level in the layered chondrocyte cell sheets (A). In contrast, type II collagen mRNA expression was at significantly higher levels in the layered chondrocyte sheets in comparison to the monolayer cultures and monolayer chondrocyte sheets (B). SOX9 and COL27 mRNA expression were observed at significantly higher levels in the layered chondrocyte sheets in comparison to conventional monolayer cultures and monolayer chondrocyte sheets (C, D). Integrin α10 and fibronectin mRNA expression were at significantly higher levels in the layered chondrocyte sheets in comparison to the conventional monolayer cultures and the monolayer chondrocyte sheets (E, F).