Figure 2

SnoRNA expression in cartilage and OA chondrocytes. (A) Selected snoRNAs DE in the microarray were validated using qRT-PCR. Gene expression patterns of SNORD95, SNORD96A, SNORD26, SNORD98, SNORD33, and SNORD44 were validated in Y versus P cartilage. SNORD116 and SNORD26 and SNORD98 were validated in P versus U. SNORD96A, SNORD26, SNORD33, SNORD95 and SNORD44 were differentially expressed between Y and U cartilage. Only the latter was DE in the microarray analysis. (B) The table shows a comparison between the microarray and qRT-PCR results for selected snoRNAs. All microarray results had an FDR < 0.05. (C) The gene expression of selected snoRNAs DE in the microarray were determined in non-OA (n = 4) and OA (n = 4) human articular chondrocytes. SnoRNA expression; SNORD116, SNORD26, SNORD33, SNORD95 were increased in ‘protected’ compared to ‘unprotected’ cartilage. SNORD96A, SNORD44 and SNORD98 were reduced in ageing cartilage. (D) The chondrocyte phenotype differences between these donors were assessed using a panel of chondrocyte phenotypic genes. Gene expression changes were measured using 2^−ΔCT expression relative to miR6786 (snoRNAs) or cyclophilin (protein coding genes). A logarithmic scale was used to compress the data were appropriate. White bars represent non-OA and black OA chondrocytes. Data represents the mean + standard error of mean, p values are indicated. p values indicated as follows: *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01.