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VEGF‐mediated fusion in the generation of uniluminal vascular spheroids
Author(s) -
Gentile Carmine,
Fleming Paul A.,
Mironov Vladimir,
Argraves Kelley M.,
Argraves W. Scott,
Drake Christopher J.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
developmental dynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.634
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1097-0177
pISSN - 1058-8388
DOI - 10.1002/dvdy.21720
Subject(s) - biology , spheroid , vegf receptors , microbiology and biotechnology , fusion , cancer research , genetics , cell culture , linguistics , philosophy
Embryonic mouse allantoic tissue (E8.5) was cultured in hanging drops to generate a three‐dimensional vascular micro‐tissue. The resulting tissue spheroids had an inner network of small diameter vessels expressing platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule‐1 (PECAM‐1) and an outer layer of cells expressing SMαA, SM22‐α, and SM‐MHC. In a subsequent phase of culture, the fusion‐promoting activity of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was used to transform the inner network of small diameter endothelial tubes into a contiguous layer of cells expressing PECAM‐1, CD34, and VE‐cadherin that circumscribed a central lumen‐like cavity. The blood vessel‐like character of the VEGF‐treated spheroids was further demonstrated by their physiologically relevant vasodilatory and contractile responses, including contraction induced by KCl and relaxation stimulated by high‐density lipoproteins and acetylcholine‐induced nitric oxide production. Developmental Dynamics 237:2918–2925, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.