Figure 5

Notch-induced HUVEC morphogenesis was mediated via its induction of MMPs. A) Notch-induced HUVEC morphogenesis on collagen was blocked by addition of an MMP inhibitor. HUVEC were transduced with either Ad-LacZ or Ad-N1IC at 40 MOI and seeded on type 1 collagen gels in the absence or presence of 50 μM GM6001. Images are representative of 5 days post-infection. B) Quantification of Ad-N1IC-induced morphogenesis on collagen, measured as numbers of HUVEC with cellular extensions. C) Notch-induced HUVEC morphogenesis on fibrin was blocked by addition of an MMP inhibitor, but not a serine-protease inhibitor. HUVEC were transduced with either Ad-LacZ or Ad-N1IC at 40 MOI and seeded on fibrin gels in the absence or presence of the matrix metalloprotease inhibitor (50 μM GM6001), or the serine-protease inhibitor, (10 mM eACE). Images are representative of 5 days post-infection. D) Quantification of Ad-N1IC-induced morphogenesis on fibrin. Experiments were performed in triplicate, and data of a representative experiment presented. NT (No Treatment).