Fig. 3

hADSCs engineered with modVEGF promotes angiogenesis in an in vivo Matrigel plug assay. Matrigel plugs harvested at 1-week post-implantation were assessed. a Representative gross morphological assessment (left) and microphotographs (right) of hematoxylin & eosin (H&E) stainings of extracted plugs. Yellow arrows indicate new blood vessel formation within the plug. b Representative photomicrographs of Matrigel plugs stained for VEGF detection. c The percentage of VEGF expression per area was calculated. d Representative photomicrographs of Matrigel plugs stained for human nuclei antibody (HNA) and CD31. White arrows partially indicate the localization of hADSCs detected with HNA. Yellow arrows partially indicate CD31⁺ blood vessels. e, f Ratio of HNA⁺ cells (e) and the number of CD31⁺ capillaries were quantified (f). g Representative images depicting levels of proliferating hADSCs in plugs using Ki67 stainings. h The ratio of Ki67⁺ cells was quantified. i Representative TUNEL stainings depict levels of apoptotic hADSCs within the Matrigel plugs. j The ratio of apoptotic cells was quantified. Error bars showed means ± SD. Scale bar = 20 μm. (n = 3, *p† < 0.05, **p† < 0.01, ***p† < 0.001, ****p† < 0.0001)