TLR2 activation induces EC tube formation and Ang2 expression.

Human dermal microvascular endothelial cell tubule formation on matrigel matrix following stimulation with Pam3CSK4 (1 ug/ml). (A) Representative image of baseline tube formation (left panel) and tube formation following stimulation with Pam3CSK4 (right panel). (B) Quantitative analysis of the number of connecting branches at baseline and in response to Pam3CSK4. The tube analysis was determined from 5 sequential fields (Magnification×40) focussing on the surface of the matrigel (n = 4). (C–D) The effect of Pam3CSK4 on angiopoietin-2 expression in HMVEC (n = 4) and RA synovial explants (n = 6). Data represented as the mean+/−sem. *p<0.05 significantly different from baseline. (E) Ang2, Tie2 and TLR2 expression in RA synovial tissue sections.