Spatial distribution and density of fibroblasts determine angiogenic response of endothelial cells.

Pu Zhang, Melur K Ramasubramanian, Li-Heng Cai

Abstract read

In one paragraph

Article in Microfluidics and nanofluidics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it

0cells of the map it votes in

0citing papers in PubMed

–field-weighted citation impact

1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Pu ZhangSoft Biomatter Laboratory, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904 USA.

Melur K RamasubramanianDepartment of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904 USA.

Li-Heng CaiSoft Biomatter Laboratory, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904 USA.

Funding

Constructing 3D voxelated tissues with molecular architecture encoded modular biomaterials to understand and control stem cell functionR35GM154912 · NIGMS · UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA · PI Liheng Cai · 2024 to 2026

$1.2M

NIGMS NIH HHS R35 GM154912

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Fibroblasts play indispensable roles in orchestrating revascularization and angiogenesis of endothelial cells. However, the specific conditions under which the influence of fibroblasts becomes important in modulating angiogenic formation remain to be determined. Here, we extend a previously established microfluidic co-culture system to enable precise manipulation of the density of human lung fibroblasts (HLF) and their distance to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in a wide range within fibrin hydrogels. Using live cell imaging and image analysis, we quantify the effects of fibroblast density, HLF- HUVEC cell-cell distance, and culturing time on cell migration, morphology, microvasculature, and endothelial sprouting. We find that, within the system and parameter range explored here, for fibroblasts to have a significant positive impact in the angiogenesis of endothelial cells, the fibroblast density should be no less than ~3×10 Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s10404-026-02939-3.

Indexed as

AngiogenesisAngiogenic responseEndothelialFibrin hydrogelMicrofluidic deviceRevascularization

Identifiers

PMID42889306

DOI10.1007/s10404-026-02939-3

PMCPMC13668921

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata

Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.