Wound fluid angiogenesis factor stimulates the directed migration of capillary endothelial cells

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Abstract
During wound healing, new capillaries grow into the wound site. An angiogenesis factor isolated from wound fluid stimulates the movement of capillary endothelial cells in a filter migration assay. Experiments were carried out to determine whether the movement seen in the assay was chemokinetic or chemotactic. Capillary endothelial cells were plated onto a collagen-coated coverslip and inverted over a visualization apparatus. Cells exposed to a constant concentration of wound fluid angiogenesis factor (WAF) were more mobile than cells not exposed to WAF, and this movement was chemokinetic. When exposed to a gradient of WAF, the cells translocated toward the higher concentration; this directional movement was chemotactic. Cells in a gradient of WAF morphologically aligned with the gradient. These data support the idea that wound healing angiogenesis is regulated by the chemotaxis of capillary endothelial cells.