Cytological similarity between AFL4- and VEGF-A–treated ECs.

(A-F) Addition of 50 ng/mL VEGF-A results in elongation of ECs. This shape change did not disrupt the cell-cell junctions; VE-cadherin, γ-catenin (γ-catenin–VE-cadherin [VECD-1]; panels A-B) and PECAM-1 (PECAM-1–VE-cadherin [VECD-1]; panels D-E) were concentrated at intercellular contact sites. (G-L) In cultures treated with 100 μg/mL AFL4, ECs became spindle-shaped. VE-cadherin, γ-catenin (γ-catenin–VE-cadherin [VECD-1]; panels G-H) and PECAM-1 (PECAM-1–VE-cadherin [VECD-1]; panels J-K) were localized at cell-cell contact sites. Unlike the thin stringlike junctions in untreated cultures (Figure 5), thicker beltlike junctions were formed in VEGF-A– and AFL4-treated cultures (panels A,G, arrows). Note that otherwise, the 2 groups are similar in all aspects examined here. Panels C, F, I, and L are merged images. Scale bar, 20 μm.