Endothelial Cell Tube Formation Assay: An In Vitro Model for Angiogenesis.

Mary Kelley, Sara Fierstein, Laura Purkey, Kathleen DeCicco-Skinner

Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.) 2022

filter terms:

Endothelial cell tube formation assay is one of the most widely used and reliable methods for studying in vitro angiogenesis. Endothelial cells plated over a basement membrane extract and subjected to angiogenic factors in conditioned medium, form a rapid and quantifiable tube network within hours. Tube formation is sustained for 18-24 h, after which time apoptosis occurs and tube networks disintegrate. The tube network can be imaged using a phase contrast microscope, or upon Calcein-AM treatment, a fluorescence/confocal microscope. This assay has several advantages, namely: ease of set up, the ability to test numerous angiogenic/anti-angiogenic factors simultaneously, quick network formation, ability to view live or fixed tube networks, and quantifiability. To ensure successful results and limit variability, proper selection of basement membrane extracts and endothelial cells is necessary, and conditions must be optimized. In summary, this assay is a useful method for screening potential angiogenic/anti-angiogenic factors as well as identifying critical mechanisms and signaling pathways underlying angiogenic-related pathologies. © 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

Citation

Mary Kelley, Sara Fierstein, Laura Purkey, Kathleen DeCicco-Skinner. Endothelial Cell Tube Formation Assay: An In Vitro Model for Angiogenesis. Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.). 2022;2475:187-196