Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells from Discarded Neonatal Sternal Tissue: In Vitro Characterization and Angiogenic Properties

Figure 6

Neonatal sbMSCs cooperate with HUVECs in spheroids to form a complex sprouting network in fibrin gel. (a) Spheroids containing HUVECs (400 cells/spheroid) manifested minimal sprouting at 6 days. (b) Spheroids containing sbMSCs (400 cells/spheroid) had manifested increased sprouting after 6 days. (c) Spheroids containing HUVECs and sbMSCs (800 cells/spheroid with 1 : 1 ratio of each cell type) demonstrated a complex sprouting network at 6 days. Scale bar = 100 μm. (d and e) Tube formation (†) was evident in a subset of sprouts emanating from spheroids. Scale bar = 50 μm. (f) Adjacent spheroids were sometimes connected to each other by anastomosing sprouts (). Scale bar = 20 μm.

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