Figure 3

Endothelial function tests of SMC-CD34-ECs. (a) SMC-CD34-ECs were able to take up fluorescently labelled ac-LDL in a comparable pattern to HUVECs. (Scale bar: 100 μm) Statistical analysis of the mean fluorescence density revealed significantly higher ac-LDL uptake rate of SMC-CD34-ECs than SMCs. (b) In vitro tube formation assay was performed with SMCs and SMC-CD34-ECs. SMC-CD34-ECs showed a higher efficiency for tube structures forming compared to control SMCs. (Scale bar: 100 μm) (c) Quantification of total tube length showed a significant increase of SMC-CD34-ECs group compared to SMCs. (***p < 0.001 by Student’s t test, n = 5) (d) The tube forming cells were immunofluorescence stained positively for endothelial marker CD144. (Scale bar: 100 μm) (e) SMC-CD34-ECs formed capillary-like structures in the in vivo Matrigel plug assays. (Scale bar: 100 μm).