Figure 3.

Mouse bone marrow-derived MNCs differentiate into cells with endothelial progenitor cell-like characteristics after expansion in vitro.

Notes: Immunocytochemical analysis of cells cultured for 7 days revealed the expression of the mouse endothelial cell markers CD31 (A), vWF (B), and KDR (C). All antibodies were directly labeled with FITC. Cell nuclei were stained with DAPI. Control cells were incubated with PBS in place of primary antibody (D). These exhibited uptake of acetylated LDL (F) and bound FITC-labeled lectin (E) after 7 days in culture. Cell nuclei were stained with DAPI (G). H) Overlap of these three images. Magnification: ×200.

Abbreviations: DAPI, 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole; FITC, fluorescein isothiocyanate; KDR, kinase domain receptor; LDL, low-density lipoprotein; MNCs, mononuclear cells; PBS, phosphate-buffered saline; vWF, von Willebrand factor.