Fig. 4.

Blocking of αvβ3- and α5β1-integrins results in a combined effect on the inhibition of capillary-like tube formation in purified fibrin matrices. HMVECs cultured on a three-dimensional fibrin matrix and were not stimulated (control) or stimulated with FGF-2/TNF-α in the absence or presence of the αvβ3-blocking mAb LM609 (10 μg/ml), the αvβ5-blocking mAb P1F6 (10 μg/ml), the α5-blocking mAb IIA1 (2 μg/ml) or the combinations of these mAbs. After 6 days of culturing, the mean tube length of duplicate wells was quantified (mm/cm²) as described (a). The data represent mean % ± SEM of FGF-2/TNF-α stimulated tube formation of 3–7 independent experiments. The mean tube length of FGF-2/TNF-α in the purified fibrin matrix was 83 ± 4 mm/cm². b After 6 days of culturing, non-phase photomicrographs were taken of hMVECs stimulated with FGF-2/TNF-α in the absence or presence of LM609, IIA1 or the combination of these mAbs in the concentrations described above. Bar represents 300 μm. *P < 0.01 as compared to 100% (=FGF-2/TNF-α stimulated condition)