Figure 10 | Scientific Reports

Figure 10

From: Disorganized vascular structures in sporadic venous malformations: a possible correlation with balancing effect between Tie2 and TGF-β

Figure 10

Possible balancing effect between Tie2 and TGF-β in endothelial cells (ECs).

(A, B) Tie2 and p-Tie2 upregulation and TGF-β downregulation are detected in venous malformation ECs (VMECs) when compared with HUVECs by double-immunofluorescence analysis of cells. Nuclei are counterstained with Hoechst. (C) The fluorescence intensities of Tie2 and p-Tie2 are significantly increased in VMECs when compared with HUVECs; the fluorescence intensity of TGF-β is decreased. Data are expressed as means ± SEM. ***, P < 0.001 versus HUVECs. (D) Expression levels of p-Tie2 and TGF-β/p-Smad3 in HUVECs are detected by western blot analysis after treatment with Tie2 agonist Ang-1 or recombinant TGF-β. The gels have been run under the same experimental conditions. The cropped gels/blots are used. (E) The mRNA expression levels of Tie2 and TGF-β in HUVECs are determined by real-time qPCR after treatment with recombinant TGF-β or Tie2 agonist Ang-1. Data are represented as the relative ratio to the control group without treatment (means ± SD for qPCR). **, P < 0.01 versus control group.

Back to article page