Fig. 8: CTGF can restore vascular integrity.

a Phenotypic characterisation of tight junction morphology in iPS-ECs treated as indicated for 3 h using immunofluorescence confocal imaging. Lower panel, quantification of straight, thick and fingers junctions. n = 250 cells per group. Median values are shown in each boxplot. All boxes include the median line, and the box denotes the interquartile range (IQR). Whiskers denote the rest of the data distribution and spread from minimum to maximum. All p values were calculated using a using a two-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s multiple comparisons tests. (Thick: CTR vs. PFK15 ****p < 0.000000000000001; PFK15 vs. PFK15+rCTGF ****p = 0.000000016; PFK15 vs. rCTGF ****p = 0.000000000017 Fingers: CTR vs. PFK15 ****p < 0.000000000000001; CTR vs. PFK15+rCTGF ****p = 0.000002; CTR vs. rCTGF **p = 0.0035; PFK15 vs. PFK15+rCTGF **p = 0.0043; PFK15 vs. rCTGF ****p = 0.000000781). b Immunofluorescence confocal imaging showing CD31⁺ ECs (green) in vascular networks covered by pericytes (PDGFRβ⁺, magenta) in sections from BVOs treated with DMSO (CTR) or PFK15 (2.5 µM) and PFK15 (2.5 µM) + rCTGF(50 ng/ml) for 24 h. White arrows indicate pericytes attached to microvessels, magenta arrows indicate extravascular mural cells. c Pericyte coverage in n = 6 BVOs per group from three separate preparations. One-two sections per BVO were assessed. d Quantification of vessel density and (e) length in n = 6 BVOs per group from three separate preparations and 4 different areas per 10x images have been used. One-two sections per BVO were assessed. Data are shown as mean ± SD using two-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s multiple comparisons tests. (c: ****p = 0.000061; **p = 0.0058; d: *p = 0.0150 **p = 0.0097; e: **p = 0.0019 ***p = 0.0008). ns not significant. Bar scales 100 μm. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.