FIG. 4.

HGF-conditioned media stabilize EC networks. (A) Non-HGF-expressing HepG2 were stably transduced with empty (Empty) or human HGF (HGF) retrovirus and transcription was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. (B) HepG2 transduced to constitutively express HGF produced 53,072 pg/mL as detected by ELISA. (C) HUVEC cultured in collagen-Fn gel were cultured in HepG2-CM-expressing empty vector (left, 164±4 μm), human HGF (middle, 503±48 μm), or non-CM (right). (D) Mean network length and one-way ANOVA indicate significant effect of conditioning media with HepG2 expressing human HGF on network formation (*p<0.001, n=3; 4×, scale bar=250 μm). Color images available online at www.liebertpub.com/tea