Endothelial cell tube formation assay for the in vitro study of angiogenesis

J Vis Exp. 2014 Sep 1:(91):e51312. doi: 10.3791/51312.

Abstract

Angiogenesis is a vital process for normal tissue development and wound healing, but is also associated with a variety of pathological conditions. Using this protocol, angiogenesis may be measured in vitro in a fast, quantifiable manner. Primary or immortalized endothelial cells are mixed with conditioned media and plated on basement membrane matrix. The endothelial cells form capillary like structures in response to angiogenic signals found in conditioned media. The tube formation occurs quickly with endothelial cells beginning to align themselves within 1 hr and lumen-containing tubules beginning to appear within 2 hr. Tubes can be visualized using a phase contrast inverted microscope, or the cells can be treated with calcein AM prior to the assay and tubes visualized through fluorescence or confocal microscopy. The number of branch sites/nodes, loops/meshes, or number or length of tubes formed can be easily quantified as a measure of in vitro angiogenesis. In summary, this assay can be used to identify genes and pathways that are involved in the promotion or inhibition of angiogenesis in a rapid, reproducible, and quantitative manner.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Video-Audio Media

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Line, Transformed
  • Culture Media, Conditioned
  • Endothelial Cells / physiology*
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic / physiology*

Substances

  • Culture Media, Conditioned