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Figure 3 | Stem Cell Research & Therapy

Figure 3

From: Characterization of menstrual stem cells: angiogenic effect, migration and hematopoietic stem cell support in comparison with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells

Figure 3

Conditioned MenSCs media display significantly higher stimulation of tubule structures formation. HUVEC cells were incubated in MenSCs CM and BM-MSCs CM previously exposed to normoxia (95% O2)/hypoxic conditions (1% O2) or in basal medium, and cultured for six hours with Matrigel. (A) Representative images of the HUVEC tube formation. Panel shows representative images of the capillary network formation on Matrigel assay. Analysis revealed an increase of tubule formation in cells cultured with MenSCs CM, both in normoxia or hypoxia. (B-D) Tubules network quantification. Graphs represent the statistical analysis of the percentage of covered area (B), total loops (C) and total length of tube (D) of tubules network on matrigel angiogenesis assay. HUVEC cultured with MenSCs CM show a statistically significantly higher percentage of covered area, loops and length of tube with respect to the other conditions, both in normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Values shown in the graphs are the mean ± SE (*P ≤0.05; ***P ≤0.001). (E-F) Analysis of soluble factors secreted by MenSCs in vitro. MenSCs and BM-MSCs cells were cultured for 72 hours under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. E) VEGF and F) FGF levels of MenSCs and BM-MSCs CM were assessed by ELISA. Values are expressed as mean ± SE; *,P ≤0.05; ***,P ≤0.001 versus normoxia. Data shown are representative of multiple replicates. BM-MSCs, bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells; CM, conditioned media; FGF, fibroblast growth factor; HUVEC, human umbilical vein endothelial cells; MenSCs, menstrual-drived stem cells; SE, standard error; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor.

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