Tube formation assay.

<p>Angiogenic capacity analyzed by tube formation of human endothelial cells treated with different PD fluids. Automated analysis performed with CellProfiler Software showing (A) mean area and number of closed areas by endothelial cell branches (B) and (C) illustrative example of methodology (left image: red lines mark endothelial cells and their branches; right image: areas framed by endothelial cells are shown in different colors). Representative examples of the tubular network formed with BPDF and LPDF from 4 independent experiments performed in triplicates are given in (D). *p<0.05; **p<0.01; ****p<0.0001 for BPDF vs. all other; #p<0.05 BPDF vs. LPDF.</p

Vessel morphology and angiopoietin-1 abundance in peritoneal biopsies.

<p>Angiopoietin-1 abundance per CD31 positive endothelium (A) and cross sectional vessel area (B) in the peritoneum of children on PD with bicarbonate and lactate buffered PD fluid and low glucose degradation product content (n = 8/group; Aperio^® digital image analysis). Representative angiopoietin-1 staining with BPDF and LPDF are given in (C) and (D), scale bar 100μm. * p<0.05.</p

Translocation of Receptor Tyrosine Kinase receptor to cell-cell contacts.

<p>Immunofluorescence staining of human umbilical vein endothelial cells following incubation with recombinant human angiopoietin-1 (30min), dialysates and glucose (24h). Angiopoietin1 and bicarbonate buffered PD fluid promote translocation of Receptor Tyrosine Kinase to the vascular endothelial cadherin (VE cadherin) cell-cell contacts (orange overlap). Magnification 400x. Representative images are given.</p