Atherogenic Cytokines Regulate VEGF-A-Induced Differentiation of Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells into Endothelial Cells

Figure 6

Ang II counteracts IL-6 or TNFα inhibition of EC differentiation: the combined effects of Ang II, IL-6, and TNFα on VEGF-A-stimulated differentiation of MSCs into ECs were examined. TNFαR, IL-6R, AT2R, and VEGFR-2 mRNA expression was analyzed by RT-PCR () (a). Sox18 protein levels were measured by Western blot analysis () (b). Expression of EC markers was determined by FACS analysis, and a representative grid is shown ( = 3-4) ((c)–(h)). Endothelial tube formation was examined using an angiogenesis assay () ((d)–(i)). Experiments were performed with samples taken from independent BM-MSC cultures from separate microswine. HUVECs were excluded from statistical analyses. Data are shown as mean ± SD. versus naïve MSCs, MSCs treated with VEGF-A versus VEGF-A plus Ang II cotreatment, and versus MSCs treated with VEGF-A and Ang II versus VEGF-A and Ang II plus IL-6 and/or TNFα.

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