Expression data of articular and growth plate cartilage zones in 10-day-old rat proximal tibial epiphysis

We found that many genes that were spatially upregulated in intermediate/deep zone of articular cartilage were also spatially upregulated in resting zone of growth plate cartilage (overlap greater than expected by chance, P < 0.001). Interestingly, superficial zone of articular cartilage showed an expression profile with similarities to both proliferative and hypertrophic zones of growth plate cartilage (P < 0.001 each). Additionally, significant numbers of known proliferative zone markers (3 out of 6) and hypertrophic zone markers (27 out of 126) were spatially upregulated in superficial zone compared to intermediate/deep zone (more than expected by chance, P < 0.001 each). In conclusion, we provide evidence that intermediate/deep zone of articular cartilage has a gene expression profile more similar to resting zone of growth plate cartilage, whereas superficial zone has a gene expression profile more similar to proliferative and hypertrophic zones.我们发现，在关节软骨（articular cartilage）中间/深区（intermediate/deep zone）发生空间特异性上调的大量基因，在生长板软骨（growth plate cartilage）静息区（resting zone）同样出现空间特异性上调，且基因重叠程度高于随机预期（P < 0.001）。值得注意的是，关节软骨表层区（superficial zone）的表达谱（expression profile）与生长板软骨增殖区（proliferative zone）和肥大区（hypertrophic zones）均具有高度相似性，且两组比较的P值均小于0.001。此外，相较于中间/深区，表层区中出现空间特异性上调的已知增殖区标志物（6个中的3个）与肥大区标志物（126个中的27个）数量显著，且均高于随机预期（P < 0.001）。综上，本研究提供证据表明：关节软骨中间/深区的基因表达谱与生长板软骨静息区更为相似，而表层区的基因表达谱则更接近增殖区与肥大区。