(A) Effect of MDK knockdown in SMCs on HUVEC network formation in 3D co-culture as per confocal microscopy over a 4 day timeline. Transfection of scrambled siRNA (siScr) was used as negative control. (B) Quantification of the effect of MDK siRNA-mediated knockdown on total network area in co-cultures of the three SMC lineages on day 2. (C) Quantification of total cord length in co-cultures containing MDK-siRNA treated SMCs on day 2. (D) Quantification of the effect of MDK siRNA-mediated knockdown on the number of branch points in co-cultures of the three SMC lineages on day 2. (*p<0,05, **p<0,01, ***p<0,001, n=3 independent biological replicates, scale bars= 100 μm).