Figure 4.

Lumen and transgraft endothelialization. At day 28 after gene therapy both AdVEGF-A109 (A) and AdVEGF-A165 (B) showed partial endothelialization on the luminal surface of the graft, whereas control AdLacZ (C) remained without endothelium. All grafts showed capillaries growing into the interstitial spaces of the graft wall (D, E and F). After the AdVEGF-A treatments, endothelial cells were found close to the luminal side of the grafts (left side of image D and E) while positive staining was restricted more adventitially with control AdLacz (F). The total degree of luminal endothelialization (G) as well as transmural capillary growth (H, I) were significantly improved in both AdVEGF-A treatment groups. Scale bar 500 µm in A, B, C, D, E, F. Asterisks in G, H, I indicate significant P values with *P < 0.05, **P < 0.005, ***P < 0.001.