Fig. 7. VEGFR-1 induces EC spreading. (A) Cells were plated on 10 µg/ml fibronectin (FN) or VEGFR-1/Fc in the presence of monensin (mn) or cycloheximide (chx), and the percentage of adherent cells with respect to untreated samples was measured. Histograms represent the mean absorbance value of medium from triplicate wells ± s.e.m. (B) Effect of RGD peptides on the spreading of EC. Cells were plated on 1 µg/ml vitronectin (VN), or 10 µg/ml VEGFR-1/Fc and left to adhere. RGD peptides (0.4 mM) were then added to the cell monolayer. Results are expressed as the percentage of spread cells compared to controls without peptide addition ± s.e.m. (C) Immunofluorescence staining for fibronectin in the matrix deposited by EC. Cells were allowed to adhere on VEGFR-1/Fc or vitronectin (VN), for 3 hours and the deposited matrix was analysed with an anti-fibronectin antibody. Arrowheads indicate organised fibronectin fibrils. Scale bar: 5 µm.

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