Phagocytosis of HUVEC-derived apoptotic bodies by EPCs. (A) Uptake of annexin V/PE-labeled apoptotic bodies by lectin-FITC⁺ EPCs (arrows) at different time points. Overlay of both signals (orange), fluorescence microscopy, original magnification × 200. (B) Localization of apoptotic bodies (arrows) in EPCs after 1.5 hours of incubation. Overlay of both signals (orange), fluorescence microscopy, original magnification × 1000. (A-B) Representative images from 3 independent experiments. (C) Confocal laser scanning micrographs of spindle-shaped adherent cells (F-actin staining with Alexa-568-labeled phalloidin, red) containing apoptotic bodies (staining with FITC-labeled annexin V, green). Upper panels: xy-axis; lower panels: xz-axis. The xz sections were gained by sectioning 16 xy sections each time. Virtual cutting axes are indicated as white lines. Scale bars represent 10 μm; 3 images (Ci-iii) from 4 independent experiments.