Migration and permeability of endothelial cells.
(A) Induction of endothelial cells migration by ECM. ECM contained 38 pg/mL VEGF-A and 7 pg/mL PlGF. Chemotaxis of HUAECs was evaluated in the presence of 50 ng/mL VEGF-165, 50 ng/mL PlGF-1, or ECM in the absence (ECM) or in the presence of either anti-VEGF antibodies (ECM + Ab VEGF), anti-PlGF antibodies (ECM + Ab PlGF), or both blocking antibodies (ECM + Ab VEGF + Ab PlGF). Control was cell-free erythroblast culture medium in the absence or presence of 50 μg/mL rabbit preimmune serum (control). Each point represents the mean number of migrated cells and SDs of 3 different experiments. (B) ECM induces permeability of endothelial cells. ECM contained 38 pg/mL VEGF-A and 7 pg/mL PlGF. Cell permeability was measured by inulin passage through the BCE monolayer and evaluated by measuring 3H-inulin efflux (indicated cpm) during a period of 120 minutes. Inulin efflux with 50 ng/mL VEGF-165 was measured in the absence (▪) or in the presence (●) of blocking anti-VEGF antibodies and with ECM in the absence (♦) or in the presence (▴) of blocking anti-VEGF antibodies. Control was cell-free culture medium in the absence or in the presence of 50 μg/mL rabbit preimmune serum (■).
