Fig. 2: SVF promotes angiogenesis an in vivo model of the ischemic wound.

a Representative images of INTEGRA scaffold populated by Cdh5-CreER;mTmG SVF cells at the indicated time points. In the upper panel, mTmG⁺ cells are located both within the scaffold, marked by a dashed white line, and in the muscle underneath. In the lower panel, CD31 staining identifies both host (CD31⁺ EGFP⁻) and donor (CD31⁺ EGFP⁺) vessels. b High-magnification images of the same tissues as in (a) to visualize mTmG⁺ CD31⁺ vessels and the increased complexity of SVF-formed vascular network over time. Upper panels are from outside, whereas lower panel is from within the INTEGRA scaffold. c Quantification of CD31⁺ area upon application of INTEGRA scaffold, either alone or in combination with SVF cells, at the indicated time points. Data are compared to those of a healthy skin. d Quantification of ischemic wound area upon application of INTEGRA scaffold, either alone or in combination with SVF cells, at the indicated time points. e Representative image of INTEGRA scaffold populated by Cdh5-CreER;mTmG SVF cells upon depletion of CD31⁺ ECs (left panel). The right panel shows the corresponding binary image, in which mT signal is in red and CD31 signal is in green. The minimal overlap between the two colors indicates almost null contribution of the transplanted cells to vessel formation. f Representative image of INTEGRA scaffold populated by Cdh5-CreER;mTmG SVF cells upon depletion of CD45⁺ inflammatory cells (left panel). The right panel shows the corresponding binary image, in which mT signal is in red and CD31 signal is in green. The large overlap between the two colors indicates the massive contribution of the transplanted cells to vessel formation. g Quantification of the area covered by CD31⁺ mT⁺ cells within INTEGRA at 7 days, normalized on the whole scaffold area. Data are shown as individual values in (c, d, g); n ≥ 3 per group. Scale bar in (a, b, e, f), 100 μm. Statistical significance was determined using two-way ANOVA for repeated measurements in (c, d), and one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s multiple comparison test in (g). *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ****P < 0.0001.