Pericytes modulate endothelial sprouting.

ABSTRACT:

Aim

Angiogenic sprouts arise from microvessels formed by endothelial cells (ECs) invested by pericytes (PCs). The aim of this study was to examine the role of PCs in angiogenic sprouting, an understudied phenomenon.

Methods and results

We adapted a human EC spheroid model to examine PC effects on vascular endothelial growth factor-A-induced EC sprouting in vitro by using Bcl-2-transduced human umbilical vein ECs to reduce apoptosis in collagen gels. Human placental PCs, separated from endothelial spheroids by a transwell, or addition of PC-conditioned media increased EC sprouting primarily through hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). Mixed endothelial-PC spheroids formed similar numbers of endothelial sprouts as endothelial spheroids but the sprouts from mixed spheroids were inve

SUBMITTER: Chang WG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3826704 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature