Use of a Thin Layer Assay for Assessing the Angiogenic Potential of Endothelial Cells In Vitro

Angiogenesis is essential for wound healing and regeneration and plays a significant role in several pathologies including cancer and atherosclerosis. In vitro assays offer simple and powerful tools for investigating the regulation of the angiogenic functions of primary endothelial cells (ECs) before moving to in vivo studies. The classic in vitro two-dimensional angiogenesis assay utilizes Basement Membrane Extract (BME) to study the differentiation and sprouting of ECs over a 24-h period. The protocol described here details a thin layer BME adaptation of the angiogenesis assay requiring significantly less BME and carried out in 96-well plates, allowing for a larger data yield at a greatly reduced cost, while maintaining the robustness of an assay used extensively over the past three decades.