biostudies-literatureLi LNational Natural Science Foundation of China237https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC5655878biostudies-literatureUnknown8(1)BACKGROUND:Endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) differentiation is considered crucial for vascular repair. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) induces EPC differentiation, but the underlying mechanism of this phenomenon remains unclear. Connexin 43 (Cx43) is reported to be involved in the regulation of stem cell differentiation. Therefore, we sought to determine whether Cx43 is involved in VEGF-induced EPC differentiation and vascular repair. METHODS:Rat spleen-derived EPCs were cultured and treated with various concentrations of VEGF (0, 10, or 50 ng/mL), and the relationship between EPC differentiation and Cx43 expression was evaluated. Thereafter, fluorescence redistribution after photobleaching was performed to assess the relationship between adjacent EPC differentiation and Cx43-inStem cell research & therapyVEGF promotes endothelial progenitor cell differentiation and vascular repair through connexin 43.PMC56558788167042881370213Liu HSong MXu CXu SDeng MLi LYu XZhao XfalseVEGF promotes endothelial progenitor cell differentiation and vascular repair through connexin 43.BACKGROUND:Endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) differentiation is considered crucial for vascular repair. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) induces EPC differentiation, but the underlying mechanism of this phenomenon remains unclear. Connexin 43 (Cx43) is reported to be involved in the regulation of stem cell differentiation. Therefore, we sought to determine whether Cx43 is involved in VEGF-induced EPC differentiation and vascular repair. METHODS:Rat spleen-derived EPCs were cultured and treated with various concentrations of VEGF (0, 10, or 50 ng/mL), and the relationship between EPC differentiation and Cx43 expression was evaluated. Thereafter, fluorescence redistribution after photobleaching was performed to assess the relationship between adjacent EPC differentiation and Cx43-in2017-01-01T00:00:00Z2017 Oct2025-04-27T03:56:54.5Z2019-03-27T02:59:51ZS-EPMC56558782906592910.1186/s13287-017-0684-1