4. Hierarchical classification of the human scapholunate
ligament
Once we quantified eight relevant ECM components in SLIL and control
tissues, we classified the different samples based on their global
profile for these ECM components using hierarchical clustering. As shown
in Figure 7, our results showed two main groups of samples. In the first
branch, we found five out of the six control tissues analyzed here (TF,
CC, CL, FT, and RT), along with the SLIL zone D1, although the control
tissues and D1 formed independent classification subbranches. In the
second branch, however, we found five out of the six SLIL zones (D2, M1,
M2, P1 and P2) clustering together with AC control tissues.
Interestingly, AC clustered together with M1, with both types of tissues
forming an independent classification subbranch.