Pharmacologic and Genetic Modulation of a Kinetic 96—well In Vitro Vascular Tube Formation Assay

This poster demonstrates the ability to visualize and quantify all stages of in vitro angiogenesis in a time-dependent manner for up to 14 days using a compact fluorescent imaging instrument with a 96-well kinetic co-culture model of angiogenesis, involving GFP-infected HUVECs and normal human fibroblasts. In vivo, the angiogenic process involves multiple cell types acting in concert with growth factors, enzymes, and extracellular matrix molecules to cause endothelial cell proliferation, migration, differentiation, and, ultimately, micro-vascular arrays. In pathologic conditions, such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and wet age-related macular degeneration, the balance between pro– and anti-angiogenic factors is tipped to stimulate new vessel production providing nutrients to the diseased area.