Figure 3.

EPCs stimulate migration of SMCs via CXCL12-CXCR4. (A,B) Transmigration of SMCs as analyzed in transwell chamber experiments with 8 μm pores and expressed as percentage of control. The bottom chamber contained migration medium (DMEM plus 0.5% FBS) supplemented with various doses of rCXCL12, EPCs or their secretory products in the absence or presence of blocking Abs as indicated. * p < 0.05 vs. control, # p < 0.05 vs. respective treatment in the absence of blocking Abs; n = 6. (C,D) SMC scratch assay. Subconfluent monolayers of SMCs, treated as indicated, were wounded linearly, and the area of the wound subsequently recovered by migrated SMCs was expressed as a percentage of the initial wound area. Representative photomicrographs (C) and quantified data (D) are shown. * p < 0.05 vs. untreated SMCs (control), # p < 0.05 vs. respective treatment in the absence of blocking Abs; n = 6.