Co-culture models of endothelial cells, macrophages, and vascular smooth muscle cells for the study of the natural history of atherosclerosis
Fig 6
Differentiation of monocytes into lipid-laden macrophage cells in the collagen matrix.
A: 3D confocal immunofluorescence image of monocytes mixed within collagen matrix and cultured for 24 h, showing their transformation into CD68-positive macrophages (green), B: 3D confocal immunofluorescence image of monocytes cultured within EC-plated collagen matrix followed by the addition of Dil-labelled LDL (red). Note the transformation of monocytes into LDL-laden, CD68-positive macrophages (white arrow; merged green and red; Mφ: macrophages; LDL: low-density lipoproteins), C: 3D confocal non-immunofluorescence (monocytes and SMCs were pre-stained with calcein AM) image of monocytes/macrophages and SMCs cultured within EC-plated collagen matrix followed by the addition of Dil-labelled ox-LDL (red). Note the co-localization of ox-LDL with SMCs and monocytes/macrophages (M: monocytes; Mφ: macrophages; SMC: smooth muscle cells.