Figure 1

CTHRC1 enhances tumor vascularity and angiogenesis. (a) CTHRC1-overexpressing or mock-transfected MiaPaCa-2 cells were orthotopically injected into NSG mice (n=6). Four weeks after tumor challenge, mice were killed, and the tumors were excised. The CD31⁺ and CD45⁺ cells in the excised tumors were detected by immunofluorescence analysis using confocal microscopy. Images of one representative mouse per group are shown. Proliferation (b), migration (c) and capillary-like tube formation (d) by HUVECs were assessed after treatment with different concentrations of rCTHRC1 or VEGF (0.02 μg ml⁻¹). (e) Aortic segments from C57BL/6 mice (five mice per treatment group) were exposed to rCTHRC1 (1 or 5 μg ml⁻¹) or a PBS control for 10 days. The experiment was performed twice, and representative images are shown. (f) C57BL/6 mice (n=5) were injected with 0.6-ml of Matrigel containing vehicle or rCTHRC1 (1 or 5 μg ml⁻¹). Seven days after injection, Matrigel plugs were excised from mice. Data are reported as the mean±s.d. (*P<0.01, ^#P<0.05, **P<0.001 versus vehicle). CTHRC1, collagen triple-helix repeat-containing 1; HUVECs, human umbilical vein endothelial cells; PBS, phosphate-buffered saline; rCTHRC1, recombinant CTHRC1; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor.