Figure 5.

hDPSC-apoVs activate the autophagy of ECs to induce angiogenesis

(A) Western blot analysis shows autophagy-associated genes (ATG7, Beclin-1, and LC3) expression in ECs after incubation with apoVs at concentrations of 10, 20, or 30 μg/mL. (B) Representative confocal microscopy images show the numbers of autophagosomes (yellow) and autolysosomes (red) per cell. Scale bars, 10 μm. (C) Expression of LC3 in ECs cocultured with 20 μg/mL apoVs after treatment with or without CQ was evaluated by western blots at 0, 4, 12, or 24 h. After pretreatment with or without 3-MA, the angiogenic capacity of ECs, including tube formation (D and E), migration (F), and proliferation (G) were detected following coculture with apoVs (20 μg/mL). Scale bar, 100 μm; n = 5 per group. Data are presented as mean ± SD. Statistical analyses were performed by one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post hoc test or Welch’s ANOVA with Games-Howell post hoc test for multiple-group comparisons. ∗p < 0.05, ∗∗p < 0.01, ∗∗∗p < 0.001; ns, p > 0.05.