Table 1 Differences between BMSCs and ASCs in co-culture with ECs

3D matrix used for co-culture

Fibrin [9, 38, 39, 42, 43, 49], polyurethane [37], type I collagen [38], fibrin + type I collagen in different ratios [38]

Fibrin [9, 33, 43, 51, 52]

Pericytic marker

α-SMA [9, 37, 46], NG2 [37], CD146 [37]

α-SMA [9, 50], NG2 [33]

Paracrine factors

HGF, TIMP1, TIMP2 [9]

HGF, TNF-α [51], PD-ECGF, FGF-2, MMP-9, Ang-2, pentraxin-3 [33], ECM proteins: collagen IV, fibronectin [50]

Altered gene expression

FGF-2 ↑, TGFB1 ↑, VEGFA ↑ [42], vWF ↑, CD31 ↑, VE-cadherin ↑, angiopoietin-related protein 4 ↑, CD34 ↑, CD93 ↑, CDH5 ↑ [45], MMPs ↑ [39]

CD31 ↑, VE-cadherin ↑, VEGFR-2 ↑, vWF ↑ [33]

Endothelial cell type

HUVECs [9, 37–39, 43, 45, 46, 48, 49],EPCs [37], ECFCs [42]

HUVECs [9, 33, 43, 51], OECs [33, 52]

MMPs important for network formation and ECM degradation

Yes (in contrast to fibroblasts) [39, 49]

Yes [52], to a lesser extent as plasmin family proteases [51]