Fig. 3

VCAM-1⁺CV-MSCs revealed vasculoangiogenic potential by angiogenesis analysis with Matrigel in vitro and vivo. a VCAM-1⁺CV-MSCs spontaneously formed much more intact tube-structures on Matrigel than VCAM-1⁻CV-MSCs (n = 3, ** p <0.01), indicating that VCAM-1⁺CV-MSCs possessed vasculogenic potential. Representative images are shown (scale bar = 500 μm). Each sample was performed in triplicate. b Macroscopic and microscopic view of Matrigel plugs. The Matrigel plug was harvested 21 days later; macroscopic vessels were seen in the Matrigel plug in the VCAM-1⁺CV-MSCs and NS CV-MSCs groups i. H & E staining was performed to reveal the vessel density in Matrigel plug (scale bar: ii = 500 μm; iii = 200 μm). c Vessel densities in the VCAM-1⁺CV-MSCs and NS CV-MSCs groups were much greater than in the PBS and VCAM-1⁻CV-MSCs groups (n = 3, **** p <0.0001). d New outgrowth in Matrigel plug was immunostained with vWF and α-SMA antibodies to indicate the endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells, respectively. Photographs were taken under × 20 (bottom) and × 60 (upper) magnifications. α-SMA alpha smooth muscle actin, CV chorionic villi, DAPI 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole, MSC mesenchymal stem cell, NS nonseparated, PBS phosphate-buffered saline, VCAM-1 vascular cell adhesion molecule 1, vWF von Willebrand factor