Cell Communication in a Coculture System Consisting of Outgrowth Endothelial Cells and Primary Osteoblasts
Figure 1
Angiogenesis in cocultures. OEC/pOB cocultures were cultivated for one week (a) and four weeks (b) and for four weeks (c, d)—using cryostat sections—revealing several vessel-like angiogenic structures. Cultures were stained with CD31 to detect endothelium and vessel wall. OEC monocultures were cultivated for one week (e) and four weeks (f) revealing the absence of angiogenic structures. A relevant upregulation of several genes associated with angiogenesis could be detected using a PCR array system (g, h). The relative mRNA expression of the most important growth factors involved in angiogenesis (i–k) was examined and compared after two time points. It was shown that a longer cultivation time led to a better established microvessel system and an upregulation of growth factor mRNA. One week values were set as control (=1.0). (l–o) 3D-Matrigel angiogenesis assay comparing angiogenic behaviour OEC monoculture (L) with cocultures consisting of pOB and OEC (m–o) at different cultivation time points. Scale bars: (a–c) = 150 μm; (d–f) = 75 μm; (l–o) = 50 μm. .
