Figure 3.

VEGFR2⁺ and Sca1⁺/Gr1⁺ cells differentiate into both endothelial cells and pericytes within the TC71 vasculature. Gfp⁺ VEGFR2⁺ and Sca1⁺/Gr1⁺ cells were i.v.-injected into nude mice with TC71 tumors. (A) VEGFR2⁺ cells differentiated into CD31⁺ endothelial cells (arrows). (B) Confocal microscopy (20×); VEGFR2⁺ cells also differentiated into α-SMA⁺ pericytes (arrows), adjacent to locally-derived cells (green) within the vascular smooth muscle cell network. (C) Confocal microscopy; Left (40×): Sca1⁺/Gr1⁺-derived cells differentiated into CD31⁺ endothelial cells that were incorporated into the vascular endothelial lining; yellow arrows indicate adjacent locally-derived (blue) and Sca1⁺-derived (purple) endothelial cells within the mosaic vessel. Right (20×): Sca1⁺/Gr1⁺ cells also differentiated into α-SMA⁺ cells that comprised the pericyte network (arrow). Sytox was used to stain nuclei green.