OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of stem cell factor (SCF) on proliferation, transmigration, capillary tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and on the chemotaxis of CD133(+) cells.

METHODSIn the presence of blank control, SCF, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), anti-human SCF (anti-SCF) or human IgG, the difference in proliferation capacity of HUVEC was analyzed by MTT and CCK-8 methods, and wound scratch assay and three-dimensional in vitro Matrigel assay were used for transmigration and capillary tube formation of HUVEC, respectively. In addition, the chemotaxis of CD133(+) cells sorted from human umbilical cord blood by flow cytometry was investigated by Transwell migration assay.

RESULTSSCF didn't improve the proliferative capacity of HUVEC, but significantly enhanced the transmigration capacity, and increased capillary tube formation in a dose-dependent manner. The number of intact tubules [(30.0 ± 3.4)/10(5) HUVEC] formed by HUVECs in the presence of the optimal concentration of SCF (100 ng/ml) was remarkably higher than that in blank control group [(5.0 ± 2.6)/10(5) HUVEC, P < 0.01]. SCF also significantly induced a chemotactic response of CD133(+) cells, the transmembrane migration cell number into Transwell lower chamber was significantly higher in SCF group [(118.0 ± 6.5)/10(4) CD133(+) cells] than in blank control group [(47.0 ± 4.7)/10(4) CD133(+) cells, P < 0.01 ].

CONCLUSIONSSCF significantly promotes the transmigration and capillary tube formation of HUVEC, and induces a chemotactic response of CD133(+) cells. SCF/c-kit signaling possibly plays a critical role in regulating angiogenesis of vascular endothelial cells and vasculogenesis of endothelial progenitor cells.