Angiogenesis and Functional Vessel Formation Induced by Interstitial Flow and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Using a Microfluidic Chip
Yufang Liu,
Jiao Li,
Jiasheng Zhou,
Xue Liu,
Huibing Li,
Yao Lu,
Bingcheng Lin,
Xiaojie Li,
Tingjiao Liu
Affiliations
Yufang Liu
Department of Oral Pathology, Shanghai Stomatological Hospital & School of Stomatology, Fudan University, Tianjin Road No. 2, Huangpu District, Shanghai 200001, China
Jiao Li
Department of Oral Pathology, Shanghai Stomatological Hospital & School of Stomatology, Fudan University, Tianjin Road No. 2, Huangpu District, Shanghai 200001, China
Jiasheng Zhou
School of Stomatology, Dalian Medical University, West Section No. 9, Sourth Road of Lvshun, Dalian 116044, China
Xue Liu
Department of Oral Pathology, Shanghai Stomatological Hospital & School of Stomatology, Fudan University, Tianjin Road No. 2, Huangpu District, Shanghai 200001, China
Huibing Li
School of Stomatology, Dalian Medical University, West Section No. 9, Sourth Road of Lvshun, Dalian 116044, China
Yao Lu
Department of Biotechnology, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhongshan Road No. 456, Dalian 116023, China
Bingcheng Lin
Department of Biotechnology, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhongshan Road No. 456, Dalian 116023, China
Xiaojie Li
School of Stomatology, Dalian Medical University, West Section No. 9, Sourth Road of Lvshun, Dalian 116044, China
Tingjiao Liu
Department of Oral Pathology, Shanghai Stomatological Hospital & School of Stomatology, Fudan University, Tianjin Road No. 2, Huangpu District, Shanghai 200001, China
Angiogenesis occurs during both physiological and pathological processes. In this study, a microfluidic chip for the development of angiogenesis was utilized to assess angiogenic sprouting and functional vessel formation. We also found that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was a determinant of the initiation of vascular sprouts, while the direction of these sprouts was greatly influenced by interstitial flow. Isoforms of VEGF such as VEGF121, VEGF165, and VEGF189 displayed different angiogenic properties on the chip as assessed by sprout length and number, vessel perfusion, and connectivity. VEGF165 had the highest capacity to induce vascular sprouting among the three isoforms assessed and furthermore, also induced functional vessel formation. This chip could be used to analyze the effect of different angiogenic factors and drugs, as well as to explore the mechanism of angiogenesis induced by such factors.
