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The Relative Magnitudes Of Endothelial Force Generation And Matrix Stiffness Modulate Capillary Morphogenesis In Vitro, Alisha Sarang-Sieminski, Robert Hebbel, Keith Gooch
The Relative Magnitudes Of Endothelial Force Generation And Matrix Stiffness Modulate Capillary Morphogenesis In Vitro, Alisha Sarang-Sieminski, Robert Hebbel, Keith Gooch
Alisha L. Sarang-Sieminski
When suspended in collagen gels, endothelial cells elongate and form capillary-like networks containing lumens. Human blood outgrowth endothelial cells (HBOEC) suspended in relatively rigid 3 mg/ml floating collagen gels, formed in vivo-like, thin, branched multi-cellular structures with small, thick-walled lumens, while human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) formed fewer multi-cellular structures, had a spread appearance, and had larger lumens. HBOEC exert more traction on collagen gels than HUVEC as evidenced by greater contraction of floating gels. When the stiffness of floating gels was decreased by decreasing the collagen concentration from 3 to 1.5 mg/ml, HUVEC contracted gels more and formed …