Atherogenic Cytokines Regulate VEGF-A-Induced Differentiation of Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells into Endothelial Cells

Figure 5

Ang II positively regulates VEGF-A-mediated EC differentiation: the effect of Ang II on VEGF-A-stimulated differentiation of MSCs into ECs was examined. AT2R and VEGFR-2 mRNA expression was analyzed by RT-PCR () (a). Sox18 protein levels were measured by Western blot analysis () (b). Expression of EC markers was determined by FACS analysis, and a representative grid is shown ( = 5-6) ((c)–(g)). Endothelial tube formation was examined using an angiogenesis assay () ((d)–(h)). Experiments were performed with samples taken from independent BM-MSC cultures from separate microswine. HUVECs were excluded from statistical analyses. Data are shown as mean ± SD. versus naïve MSCs and MSCs treated with VEGF-A versus VEGF-A plus Ang II cotreatment.