Fig 3. KLF4 promotes VEGF-induced tube formation and enhances angiogenesis in vivo.

A.B. Tube formation assays were performed in KLF4 expressing and knockdown HRMECs, respectively. The angiogenic effect of KLF4 on VEGF induced tube formation was determined by counting nodes and sprouts of tube-like structures from at least three different fields of three independent experiments and normalized to vehicle treated control cells. Significance was compared between KLF4 expressing and control cells with or without VEGF treatment (*p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001). Images were presented from one representative experiment. C. Sections of plugs were stained using CD31 antibody and microvessels were counted from 4 sections of each plug and averaged from total 3 plugs. Significance of CD31 positive vessels were compared between sections of KLF4 expressing and control plugs (*p<0.05).