This video demonstrates a modified microcarrier beads-based assay incorporating pericytes to study endothelial sprouting during the early stages of angiogenesis. The assay provides an in vitro experimental model to understand molecular mechanisms of angiogenesis and the effect of anti-angiogenetic therapeutics.
Protocol
1. Preparing Beads for Gel Implantation Take a culture containing microcarrier beads coated with Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVEC) and pericytes. Examine the dishes containing the microcarrier-coated beads under the microscope using the 20X objective to ensure that all beads have been sufficiently coated by endothelial cells. Vigorously pipette the plated solution of cells to detach them from the 6-cm plate and place the solution into a tube. Wash the plate 2X additional times…
Disclosures
The authors have nothing to disclose.
Materials
Sterile Pipette tips
VWR
Pipettors
Eppendorf
Complete EGM2 Media Bullet Kit
Lonza
CC-3162
HUVEC Media
MEM
Gibco
11095114
10T1/2 Media
DMEM
Gibco
11965118
NHLF Media
Tissue culture-grade PBS
Gibco
14190-144
Magnesium and calcium free
Accutase
Life Technologies
A1110501
For lifting HUVEC
Trypsin
Life Technologies
15050065
For lifting 10T 1/2 and NHLF
HUVEC
Lonza
C2517A
10T 1/2
ATCC
NHLF
ATCC
Cytodex 3 microcarrier beads
Sigma
C3275
Tissue culture-coated 6 and 10 cm plates
Corning
Fibrinogen from bovine plasma
Sigma
F8630
Thrombin
Sigma
t9549
Aprotinin
Sigma
a3428
Falcon Round-Bottom Tubes
Corning
Tissue culture incubator and hood
24-well glass bottom plates
MatTek
P24G1.513F
Glass-bottom plates are needed only if the sprouts are going to be imaged. If not, tissue culture plastic is also acceptable.
Bead Sprouting Assay for Early-Stage Angiogenesis Assessment: An In Vitro Bead-Based Model to Study Endothelial Sprouting in the Presence of Pericytes. J. Vis. Exp. (Pending Publication), e21168, doi: (2023).