Endothelial Tube Formation Assay (In Vitro Angiogenesis Assay)

Product details

Angiogenesis, or neovascularization, is the process of generating new blood vessels derived as extensions from the existing vasculature. The principal cells involved are endothelial cells, which line all blood vessels and constitute virtually the entirety of capillaries. Angiogenesis involves multiple steps; to achieve new blood vessel formation, endothelial cells must first escape from theirstable location by breaking through the basement membrane. Once this is achieved, endothelial cells migrate toward an angiogenic stimulus such as might be released from tumor cells or wound-associated macrophages. In addition, endothelial cells proliferate to provide the necessary number of cells for making a new vessel. Subsequent to this proliferation, the new outgrowth of endothelial cells needs to reorganize into a three-dimensionally tubular structure. Each of these elements, basement membrane disruption, cell migration, cell proliferation, and tube formation, can be a target for intervention, and each can be tested in vitro and in vivo.

Several in vivo assay systems, including the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay, an in vivo Matrigel plug assay, and the corneal angiogenesis assay, have been developed that permit a more realistic appraisal of the angiogenic response. However, these assays are time consuming, tedious and require technical specialties.

One quick assessment of angiogenesis is the measurement of the ability of endothelial cells to form three-dimensionalstructures (tube formation). Endothelial cells form tubes on collagen or fibrin clot coated dishes after several days.

ab325584 Endothelial Tube Formation Assay (In Vitro Angiogenesis Assay) kit provides a robust system to assess angiogenesis in vitro. Tube formation can be achieved within 18 hours. Following staining the tube with the provided fluorescence dye, the extent of tube formation, such as average tube length and branch point, can be quantified through imaging software. Each kit provides sufficient quantities to perform up to 50 assays in 96-well plates.