FIG. 8.

Schematic of the heterotypic interactions that mediate ASC vascular assembly. The top row depicts the growth and assembly of the vascular structures over time, with αSMA+ cells being recruited by PDGF-B secreted by the growing vessels. The bottom row is an interpretation of the evolution of these structures from a two-dimensional monolayer into a complex, three-dimensional structure. The recruitment of the supportive cells drives migration and multilayered, cell-on-cell clustering around the vessel. Color images available online at www.liebertonline.com/tea