SDF-1α increases adhesion and migration of ECFCs.

<p><b>A)</b> Increased adhesion of ECFC cells to fibronectin was observed following incubation with SDF-1α for 12 hours (S) compared with controls (0) (** p<0.01). The increase in adhesion due to SDF-1a was completely abrogated at 2 and 12 hours in the presence of plerixafor, a CXCR-4 antagonist (P+S) (** p<0.01). <b>B)</b> Incubating ECFCs with increasing concentrations of SDF-1α (S0 = 0 ng/ml; S50 = 50 ng/ml; S100 = 100 ng/ml; S200 = 200 ng/ml and VEGFA = 100 ng/ml VEGFA) was associated with increased adhesion to fibronectin. (** p<0.01). <b>C)</b> The migration of ECFCs across a porous membrane was enhanced by the presence of SDF-1 (50 – 200 ng/ml) in the lower part of a Boyden chamber, which was inhibited by plerixafor (P+S100). (** p<0.01) <b>D)</b> The lower side of the porous membrane can be stained to count the number of migrated cells and calculate per membrane pore. (viewed at 40x).