Direct Cell-Cell Contact between Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Endothelial Progenitor Cells Induces a Pericyte-Like Phenotype In Vitro

<table>Coexpression of pericyte markers on MSCs after direct coculture with EPCs for 7 days in IMDM-FCS (top row) or IMDM-PL (bottom row). Immunofluorescence staining for CD146, NG2, and <i>α</i>SMA demonstrated double positive cells for each combination (CD146 and NG2, CD146 and <i>α</i>SMA, and NG2 and <i>α</i>SMA). Negative controls were stained only with the fluorescent labelled secondary antibody. Cell nuclei are stained with DAPI (blue). Scale bars = 50 <i>μ</i>m.</table>

BioMed Research International

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Figure 5

Figure 5: Direct Cell-Cell Contact between Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Endothelial Progenitor Cells Induces a Pericyte-Like Phenotype In Vitro 