Table 1 List of primers

Primer	Sequence (sense/antisense)	Annealing temp. (°C)	Product (bp)
β2-microglobulin	5′-GCCATCCAGCGTATTCCAG	57	132
β2-microglobulin	5′-CCCGTTCTTCAGCAAATCG	57	132
Aggrecan	5′-TTCATCCCGCTATGACGCCA	60	154
Aggrecan	5′- ACCCTCGGTGATATTTCGG	60	154
Collagen type II	5′- ACGGTGGACGAGGTCTGACT 5′- GGCCTGTCTCTCCACGTTCA	65	141
Biglycan	5′- CCATGCTGAACGATGAGGAA	65	204
Biglycan	5′-CATTATTCTGCAGGTCCAGC	65	204
Osteopontin	5′-ATCACAGGGGACTGGACTCT	58	412
Osteopontin	5′-TGAGACTCGTTGGAATGGTC	58	412
PPARγ	5′-GGACCTTTCTATGATGGATG	57	745
PPARγ	5′-GCTGATGTGCTTGAACTTG	57	745