Angiogenic response induced by acellular aortic matrix in vivo

In this study, we investigated the angiogenic response induced by acellular aortic matrices implanted in vivo onto the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM), a useful model for such investigation. Results showed that acellular matrices were able to induce a strong angiogenic response comparable to that of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2), a well-known angiogenic cytokine. The angiogenic response was further increased when exogenous FGF-2 or transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) were added to the matrices and inhibited by the addition of an anti-FGF-2 or anti-TGF-β1 antibodies. The response may be considered dependent on a direct angiogenic effect exerted by the matrices and in part also by the presence of FGF-2 and TGF-β1 in the acellular matrices. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.