Co-cultured vSMCs deposit new ECM.

Confocal z-stack image reconstructions of fibrin microfibers seeded with ECFCs followed by (A) co-culture of vSMCs for 2 days. n = 2 with quadruplicates. Scale bars are 200 µm. Co-cultured vSMCs for 3 days showing (B) wrapping and (C) aligned arrangement. Scale bars are 100 µm. (D) Collagen I deposited by co-cultured vSMCs after 3 days in co-culture. Scale bars are 100 µm. (E) Cross-sectional projection of confocal z-stack images of vSMCs after 5 days in co-culture. Arrowheads indicate SM22⁻ cells. Scale bars are 50 µm. B–E n≥3 with quadruplicates. (F) Confocal z-stack image reconstruction and (G) cross-sectional projection of co-cultured vSMCs after 5 days in co-culture. n = 2 with quadruplicates. Scale bars are 50 µm. SM22 is shown in green, CD31 in red, collagen I and elastin in red, and nuclei in blue.