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. 2017 Jan 30;5:2. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2017.00002

Figure 2.

Figure 2

Expression pattern of various endothelial and smooth muscle cell markers in CCCs (hCMVECs/hMSCs co-culture) by immunofluorescence microscopy. Localization of key vascular cell phenotypic markers of day 14 vasculogenic hCMVECs/hMSCs CCC co-cultures demonstrated the expression of PECAM1 (A,C,E), Laminin (F,H,J), α-SMA (B,C,G,H), and VWF (D,E,I,J). Dual immunostainings of vasculogenic CCC co-cultures revealed alternate layers of elongated (top layer) and flattened cells (bottom layer) composed of varying degrees of mature endothelial and smooth muscle cells (A–J). These cells were self-organized into remarkable plexuses of nascent microvascular structures composed of mature endothelial and/or smooth muscle cells. In addition, the linear and branching vessels were composed of laminin positive sheath-like structure covering these mixed population of vascular cells, evoking the emergence of outer thick intact basement membrane (F,H,J). These capillary structures also revealed narrow and translucent central lumen. Cells were also stained for nuclei (blue, DAPI). Merged images (A–J). (A–J, scale bar 100 μm).