Gene expression profiles of the meniscus avascular phenotype: A guide for meniscus tissue engineering.

Avascular (Avas) meniscus regeneration remains a challenge, which is partly a consequence of our limited knowledge of the cells that maintain this tissue region. In this study, we utilized microarrays to characterize gene expression profiles of intact human Avas meniscus tissue and of cells following culture expansion. Using these data, we examined various 3D culture conditions to redifferentiate Avas cells toward the tissue phenotype.

Zone-specific gene expression patterns in articular cartilage.

Objective: To identify novel genes and pathways specific to the superficial zone (SZ), middle zone (MZ), and deep zone (DZ) of normal articular cartilage.

Methods: Articular cartilage was obtained from the knees of 4 normal human donors. The cartilage zones were dissected on a microtome.

Multiplex assay for simultaneously typing and subtyping influenza viruses by use of an electronic microarray.

We report on the use of an electronic microarray to simultaneously type influenza A and B viruses and to distinguish influenza A virus subtypes H1N1 and H3N2 from the potentially pandemic avian virus subtype H5N1. The assay targets seven genes: the H1, H3, H5, N1, and N2 genes of influenza A virus; the matrix protein M1 gene of influenza A virus; and the nonstructural protein (NS) gene of influenza B virus. By combining a two-step reverse transcription-multiplex PCR with typing and subtyping on the electronic microarray, the assay achieved an analytical sensitivity of 10(2) to 10(3) copies of transcripts per reaction for each of the genes.