VEGI inhibits EPC migration and capillary-like tube formation. (A) Phase-contrast microscopic images of cell migration in a wound-healing assay (4× objective lens). EPCs cultured for 10 days in the absence or presence of VEGI were allowed to migrate for 48 hours after a strip of cells were removed from the center of the monolayer formed by the cells. Solid line represents wound edge; dashed line, front edge of migrating cells. (B) Relative distance from the wound edge to the front edge of cell migration measured at various intervals. (C) Relative rate of EPCs cultured for 7 days in the absence or presence of VEGI migrating in a transwell assay. After 8 hours after the seeding of the cells on the transwell chamber, migrated cells were visualized with a dye (CyQunat GR) and counted. (D) Phase-contrast microscopic images of the formation of capillary-like structures by EPCs on Matrigel. EPCs cultured for 2 weeks in the absence or presence of VEGI were placed on Matrigel, and the images were captured within 24 hours. (E) Measurement of the total length of the capillary-like tubes. Values are mean ± SE of 3 independent experiments. *P < .05.